>Arizona Passes Sweeping Internet Censorship Bill Legislation to make it illegal to use “offensive” language online Steve Watson Infowars.com April 2, 2012
The state legislature of Arizona has passed a bill that vastly broadens telephone harassment laws and applies them to the Internet and other means of electronic communication.
The law, which is being pushed under the guise of an anti-bullying campaign, would mean that anything communicated or published online that was deemed to be “offensive” by the state, including editorials, illustrations, and even satire could be criminally punished.
>NBC peddles hate and distorts Zimmerman audio 911 tape in criminal investigation
Trayvon Martin Tape Editing Prompts Internal Probe at NBC Sunday, 01 Apr 2012 07:55 PM
NBC News reportedly has begun an internal investigation after it appears to have aired a misleadingly edited 911 call tape involving George Zimmerman, the Florida man who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The internal investigation was reported by The Washington Post.
The edited call, which aired on NBC’s “Today Show” on March 27, featured Zimmerman talking to a 911 dispatcher.
“This guy looks like he’s up to no good … he looks black,” Zimmerman said in the edited segment.
That, it turns out, appears to be only part of the exchange that took place on the night of February 26. The complete exchange went like this:
Zimmerman: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”
Dispatcher: “OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?”
Zimmerman: “He looks black.”
Brent Bozell, president of the conservative Media Research Center, called this mistake worse than a distortion or a misrepresentation and “an all-out falsehood.” He made the comment on the March 29 edition of the Fox News show “Hannity.”
Tuesday, April 3rd is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s, and you know what that means… Free Ice Cream for You!
As a way to thank our customers for their support and to celebrate 34 years of scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops are happily giving it away!
Of course this year we’re also giving away plenty of our new Greek Frozen Yogurt. If you haven’t tried it yet, this is a great opportunity to give it a lick! Of course you can always enjoy an old favorite and savor in the deliciousness that is free ice cream! Hey, either way it’s time for you to come on in!
Around the world, Scoop Shops are opening their doors from noon to 8:00 pm, to serve up a free scoop of your favorite flavor. Please check with your local Scoop Shop for more info!
Grab a pal and come on down to have some good, ’scream fun on us!
Ben & Jerry’s Ridgewood, 104-106 Franklin Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-689-1122
>Garrett Chairs Hearing to Examine Accounting and Auditing Profession Mar 28, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, delivered the following opening statement today at a hearing to examine the state of the accounting and auditing profession:
“Today, we are here to examine the accounting and auditing profession. The hearing is aptly entitled: ‘Accounting and Auditing Oversight: Pending Proposals and Emerging Issues Confronting Regulators, Standard Setters, and the Economy.’
“Accurate and reliable financial reporting to investors is a key cornerstone to our nation’s capital markets. It is essential that investors have the appropriate information needed to make informed decisions on where to invest their capital. As our nation continues to recover from the recent financial crisis, we must work hard to restore the vitality to our markets and foster an environment where American public companies can do what they do best—create jobs.
“There are three broad areas that I hope to explore in greater detail today with our esteemed panelists.
“First, I’d like to hear from the SEC where we stand with international convergence of accounting standards. I know this is a top priority for many in the business community. I also realize that there is some disagreement between large and small companies as well as different industries as to what the preferable outcome of convergence will be. I am interested in discussing the steps the chairman and staff are taking to overcome these various obstacles and how we can ensure the harmonization of these standards creates an atmosphere where U.S. companies and investors have the best information possible.
“Second, I look forward to learning more about the current process that FASB and GASB go through to develop their standards. I agree that the integrity and independence of the standard setting process is essential and that Congress should not legislate accounting standards. I have seen some positive statements from market participants about the improvement in standard setting process and I appreciate both FASB and GASB balancing the delicate line of listening to the business community’s concerns while ensuring an independent process.
“Finally, I would like to discuss some of the PCAOB’s current proposals and how and why those proposals came to pass. I think it is important to remind the PCAOB that it is not a policy-making entity; Congress and this committee are the policy makers. The PCAOB’s job is to regulate and oversee the auditing profession.
“I am very concerned about some of the recent activist proposals put forth by the PCAOB. I agree with the Chamber of Commerce and others that believe the PCAOB is ‘engaged in mission-creep, crossing the threshold of audit regulation in an attempt to regulate corporate governance…’
“Specifically, the recent concept release on mandatory audit firm rotation is especially disconcerting. What is the specific problem you are trying to solve for? What data are looking at? What kind of specific cost-benefit analysis was done? What solution does that lead us to? Too many times with many of our regulators, the policy outcome is predetermined before the hard work is done to determine what the best solution should be.
“I would like to commend the gentlemen from Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick, for his legislation preventing the PCAOB from moving forward on this policy. This hearing will serve as a legislative hearing for that proposal and it is my hope that the subcommittee will consider this bill at the next possible markup.
“In conclusion, while I believe these three areas, especially the concerns around an overactive PCAOB, are the most pressing issues—I realize there are also many other issues that require further discussion and I look forward to a constructive hearing.”
>Police Are Using Phone Tracking as a Routine Tool By ERIC LICHTBLAU Published: March 31, 2012
WASHINGTON — Law enforcement tracking of cellphones, once the province mainly of federal agents, has become a powerful and widely used surveillance tool for local police officials, with hundreds of departments, large and small, often using it aggressively with little or no court oversight, documents show.
The practice has become big business for cellphone companies, too, with a handful of carriers marketing a catalog of “surveillance fees” to police departments to determine a suspect’s location, trace phone calls and texts or provide other services. Some departments log dozens of traces a month for both emergencies and routine investigations.
>Top Obama campaign donor accused of fraud By JACK GILLUM | Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A major donor to President Barack Obama has been accused of defrauding a businessman and impersonating a bank official, creating new headaches for Obama’s re-election campaign as it deals with the questionable history of another top supporter.
The New York donor, Abake Assongba, and her husband contributed more than $50,000 to Obama’s re-election effort this year, federal records show. But Assongba is also fending off a civil court case in Florida, where she’s accused of thieving more than $650,000 to help build a multimillion-dollar home in the state — a charge her husband denies.
>BREAKING: Police investigating alleged sexual assault on South Van Dien the staff of the Ridgewood blog MONDAY APRIL 2, 2012
(RIDGEWOOD_NJ) The Ridgewood Police Department has reported it is investigating claims that a 19-year-old female was sexually assaulted at a village residence in early morning hours Monday. According to the Ridgewood News Capt. Jacqueline Luthcke, the woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at approximately 12:30 a.m. by a man at a home on South Van Dien Avenue. According to Police the woman was transported and treated at Valley Hospital.
Citing the ongoing investigation, Luthcke,told the Ridgewood News additional details about the incident were not yet available to the public . Information about the alleged suspect, including his whereabouts, is also not available, and no arrest had been made at this time.Luthcke told the Ridgewood News ,”We have a lot of allegations right now,” “but no charges have been filed at this time.”
Dear Fairway Market customers: Some USDA scientists recently revealed that they strongly believe Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) — or “pink slime” as it’s been called by the press — should not be labeled as meat. According to an ABC News source, 70 percent of all ground beef sold at supermarkets contains LFTB. While that may be the case elsewhere, Fairway Market DOES NOT sell LFTB or “pink slime” – WE’VE NEVER SOLD IT AND NEVER WILL! Since this news broke, we’ve received a lot of inquires about it. But you can shop with ease at all Fairway Market stores, knowing that LFTB or “PINK SLIME” ISN’T IN ANY MEAT WE SELL – and you’ve never ever purchased a product like that at Fairway.
ALL of our meat is the highest quality, is USDA certified, is delivered fresh daily, is custom cut by a professional butcher, AND is ground fresh every day and all day. Fairway Market Butcher Shops never cut corners, and the meat that comes into our stores is approved by me, a third-generation butcher. You expect the best, and we have never and would never give you anything less. This is why Fairway is truly LIKE NO OTHER MARKET®.
>Fallen Marine Joseph D’Augustine from Waldwick to return home Tuesday, April 3 Joseph D’Augustine had a talent for making those around him smile. His own earnest grin, friends and family members said last week in the wake of his death, will be etched in their memories forever.
D’Augustine The 29-year-old staff sergeant was killed March 27 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Thursday, March 29…
>Vote was perhaps easiest piece of merging the Princeton’s
In some ways, getting voters in Princeton borough and township to agree last year to merge may have been the easiest part of the process.
Since January 31, the Transition Task Force working to implement the consolidation has held 38 full or subcommittee meetings. That’s an average of four meetings a week.
In just nine months, the two communities will become one. There is a lot that needs to be done by January 1 and virtually no model to follow — New Jersey’s last municipal merger, in 1997, was of Hardwick and Pahaquarry, which had a population of just seven in a township comprised largely of land in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. (O’Dea, NJ Spotlight)
The Schoolhouse Museum’s Civil War exhibit displays actual Playbill from night of Lincoln’s Assassination
The most significant event to occur in April during the Civil War period was the assassination of President Lincoln. Though it occurred five days after the war ended at Appomattox, Lincoln’s assassination will always be associated with the Civil War.
On the day of his assassination Lincoln awoke cheerful and happy. So much so that the new Secretary of the Treasury, upon seeing him remarked “I never saw Mr. Lincoln so cheerful and happy”. In fact Lincoln himself told people how happy he was. Upon hearing this, the First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln voiced concern, believing that saying such things was bad luck – but Lincoln paid her no heed!
Mrs. Lincoln had been offered tickets that evening to a play at Grover’s Theater. But since this would be the farewell performance by the popular actress Laura Keene would be in Washington appearing in a Benefit performance of “Our American Cousin”, either she or the President changed their plans. The decision having been made, at about 11:00 AM, the President sent a messenger to Ford’s Theater to reserve the State Box.
The rest as they say, is history.
To see the actual Playbill from that fateful night, as well as the rest of the items on display in the museum’s “Civil War in NJ” collection, visit the Ridgewood Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum, on East Glen Avenue. The museum is open Thursdays and Saturday 1-3pm and Sundays 2-4pm. Please visit www.ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org. for more information
Some of Christie’s biggest bills match model legislation from D.C. group called ALEC
Let’s say you’re a state lawmaker, passionate about charter schools, and you want to turn this passion into laws that create social change. What you need are bills. And you want them fast — ready-made, just add water, written in language that can withstand partisan debate and legal scrutiny.
There is a place that has just what you want.It’s called the American Legislative Exchange Council, a little-known conservative group headquartered in Washington, D.C., and funded by some of the biggest corporations in the United States — most with a business interest in state legislation. (Rizzo, The Star-Ledger)
GRAYDON POOL BADGES: RESIDENT DISCOUNT SALES BEGIN APRIL 1ST
Purchase your resident membership early for a discount through May 19th. Village priced memberships are available to Ridgewood residents, non-residents who pay local property taxes to the Village of Ridgewood, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood and Board of Education. Proof is required.
GRAYDON POOL SEASON MEMBERSHIPS ADULT – $97.00 through May 19th, $110.00 thereafter. CHILD – $87.00 (ages 2-15, under 2 free) through May 19th, $100.00 thereafter. SENIOR – $20.00 (62 and older) through May 19th, $25.00 thereafter. DAILY GUEST PASS – $10.00 (Available to residents only) BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00 TENNIS BADGES ADULT – $30.00 CHILD – $25.00 DAILY PASS – $5.00 DAILY GUEST PASS – $10.00 (Available to residents only) BADGE REPLACEMENT – $5.00
NON-RESIDENT MEMBERSHIPS The Village Council and the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to invite all families in the surrounding area to join the Graydon Pool facility for the 2012 summer season. Non-Ridgewood adults will be charged $175 and children, ages 2 through 15, will be charged $155 for the 13-week season. Daily passes and guest passes are available to Ridgewood residents only. Membership sales will begin April 1st online.
HOW TO PURCHASE BADGES Badges will go on sale April 1st and can be purchased from the comfort of home on Community Pass. (Visa and Mastercard accepted).
Pre-season in person registration will be available Saturdays, May 12 and May 19, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, as well as Monday, May 28th, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Graydon Pool Badge Office, 259 North Maple Avenue. Badges can be purchased daily throughout the operating season.
Please contact the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 with any questions.
New Jersey’s 6 million drivers will have to begin digging up more and perhaps better proof of who they are to meet requirements of a new national security standard for driver’s licenses.
New Jersey on May 7 will become the 10th state to start issuing federally compliant driver’s licenses under the Real ID Act. More than 20 other states are dragging their feet. Some have taken formal action protesting the law or have indicated refusal to comply, citing privacy concerns and cost issues, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. (Jordan, Gannett)
N.J. Treasurer says low earners pay less than neighbors
New Jersey residents earning less than $150,000 pay lower income taxes than people in nearby states, including New York and Connecticut, while top earners pay a higher rate, Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff said.
The state’s revenue is “volatile” because of its progressive income tax, which is more dependent on the highest earners, Sidamon-Eristoff said. That means New Jersey suffers more than other states during an economic slowdown and outperforms during a recovery, he said during a breakfast with business owners in Monroe. (Dopp, Bloomberg)
