What's wrong with this picture?

The Record's Jersey shore coverage -- usually one Memorial Day and one Labor Day story -- doesn't appeal to older readers, who have had their fill of skin cancer.

If you're an older reader, the front page of The Record will leave you cold today -- dominated as it is with major stories on the family oriented Jersey shore and "a quiet makeover" at K-12 public schools.

But readers of all ages are wondering why two photos of incoming freshman at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan show girls violating the dress code -- this at orientation.

Are those two photos even appropriate to illustrate a story on improving math and language-arts skills  (A-1 and A-8)? 

What was the news copy editor thinking when he or she wrote the photo captions? Where was Production Editor Liz Houlton or the head of the photo?

Shore enough

The editors today deliver the obligatory, annual Labor Day story on how the shore economy is doing.

But this sun-splashed report and all of the previous stories fail to discuss just how expensive it is to own a home or even stay there for a week or two -- thanks to greedy property owners and real estate agents.

The value of shore homes didn't take a hit in the recession, unlike property in North Jersey, and you'd have to be as rich as the Borgs to afford a summer place there. 

Another thin edition

There isn't much else in today's Labor Day edition of the Woodland Park daily:

Editorial Page Editor Alfred P. Doblin pulls out every Hollywood and non-Hollywood cliche in his column on Clint Eastwood's shameless performance last week at the Republican National Convention (A-11).

On the front of the Local news section, Mike Kelly loads his column on soil contamination with question upon question, and fails as usual to provide any answers or even any strong opinions about polluters (L-1).

On the front of Better Living, a story on two Bergen County chefs competing in the "Hell's Kitchen" finale on Fox TV doesn't explain why Bergen readers should care who wins (BL-1).

Restaurant Reviewer Elisa Ung should stop wasting her time writing breathless accounts about celebrity chefs, and spend more time helping readers find a decent place to eat in North Jersey's own hell's kitchen.

Also on the Better Living front, a story on the health benefits of potatoes lays an egg: why is there no mention of the incredible sweet potato? 

Related article

• An ugly speech from a truly ugly man

'The Old Man and the Seat'

Actor Clint Eastwood lecturing an invisible President Obama at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday night. ( Getty Images via @daylife)

An editorial in The Record today refers to actor and director Clint Eastwood, whose bizarre performance at the Republican National Convention almost made Democrats forget all of the lies from Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

But Eastwood got only a one-paragraph mention in The Record's convention coverage on Friday (A-6), the night after he stared at, questioned and reacted to an empty chair holding an invisible President Obama. 

"The Daily Show" referred to Eastwood's unscripted appearance as "The Old Man and the Seat."

A different Eastwood

I must be the only one who remembers Eastwood's inspirational Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler -- which appeared to rally a recession-crippled America behind the Obama administration's recovery program.

In "It's Halftime in America," Eastwood acknowledges "division, discord and blame" -- an apparent reference to the divisive partisan rhetoric that paralyzes Congress.

"Now," he says, "Motor City is fighting again.... Detroit is showing us it can be done."

More GOP lies

Of course, Eastwood didn't mention then -- and Romney and Ryan don't give credit now -- for the Obama administration's bailout of Chrysler and General Motors, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs saved by that move.

Nor do the Republicans ever mention stimulus programs that have put tens of thousands back to work repairing the nation's infrastructure, including bridges, roads and highways.

In a pointed reference to Romney's promise to put people back to work, today's editorial reminds readers, "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does" (O-2).

But government action -- such as the bailout of two of the Big Three -- can save jobs, as it did in Detroit.

Here's is a link to the Super Bowl commercial:

It's Halftime in America

Page 1 snorefest

One look at today's front page can put you to sleep.

If Hackensack residents wonder why coverage of their city is so poor, they'll find the answer in the main element on Page 1 about an abortion doctor who now lives in Florida, recounting events dating to 1972 in Englewood Cliffs.

The story, by Hackensack reporter Stephanie Akin, must be another special commissioned by head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes or her clueless deputy, Dan Sforza.

Local snorefest 

On the front of the Local news section, readers find more illuminating coverage of rising gasoline prices, with the obligatory bitching from drivers who claim they're forced to cut back in other areas (L-1).

Of course, there's no mention that the best antidote to gas-pump sticker shock is trading in your gas-guzzling car or SUV for a more fuel-efficient vehicle and using a credit card that gives you a 4% rebate -- or more than 14 cents off on a $3.69 gallon of regular.

If you drive a hybrid, you can get around 50 mpg, plus a Green E-ZPass, which gives you discounts on Hudson River tolls, as well as those on the turnpike and parkway.

At the Hudson River, Green Pass holders are charged $4 off-peak vs. $7.50 for other E-ZPass drivers.

Also on L-1 today, Road Warrior John Cichowski finds another way to write a so-called commuting column without leaving the office.