Month: May 2012

Senate Dems back increase in air travel fee to close funding shortfall at TSA
By Erik Wasson – 05/22/12 12:33 PM ET

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday moved forward with legislation to increase airline passenger security fees, beating back a GOP attempt to keep them at current levels.

The 2013 Homeland Security appropriations bill would increase one-way fees for passengers from $2.50 to $5 in order to close a budget shortfall at the Transportation Security Administration.

https://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/228835-senate-moves-forward-with-increased-airline-passenger-fees#.T7vGjswN384.twitter

Could You Get Into Harvard Business School?
By Melissa Korn

What have you done well? What do you wish you’d done better? Answer those questions right, and you could be on your way to a Harvard M.B.A.

Harvard Business School, usually the first elite business school to unveil its M.B.A. application, is halving the number of essays that all prospective students must write – to two, at 400 words apiece. At the same time, it’s adding an extra essay for applicants who make it through an in-person interview with a school representative.

That means that instead of slogging through 2,000 words from each of the 9,000-plus applicants, the admissions office will get just 800 words per candidate to start, and then another 400 words from the 1,800 or so invited for interviews.

(Quick math: if all last year’s applicants used the maximum word limit last year — two 600-word essays and two at 400 words, for a total of 2,000 words a head– the admissions team could have read upwards of 18 million words last year. Now, they’re looking at fewer than 8 million.)

https://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2012/05/22/harvard-business-school-reveals-essay-questions-applicatio/

The 37th Annual Fred D’Elia Ridgewood Run is this coming weekend…

Summer 2012 Running Shoe Guide
Runner’s World wear-tests and reviews the latest shoes to help you find the perfect fit.
By Jeff Dengate & Martyn Shorten, Ph.D.
From the June 2012 issue of Runner’s World

Best Update: Saucony ProGrid Hurricane 14 $140

Heel Cushioning: 55 /100
Forefoot Cushioning: 96/100
Flexibility: 50/100
Heel Height: 36.1 mm
Forefoot Height: 26.9 mm
Weight: 10.9 oz (M); 9.3 oz (W)

When a shoe has been around long enough to boast a double-digit number at the end of its name, any updates are usually minor tweaks. Naturally, you don’t want to turn away the faithful. But Saucony boldly overhauled the Hurricane. The 14 is 1.2 ounces lighter than its predecessor, is more flexible, offers more cushioning, and is more stable. And Saucony lowered the heel-to-toe drop to 9.2 mm, down from 11.4 mm. Such dramatic changes could have gone horribly wrong, but Saucony came out with a winner, and wear-testers loved the update. The Sauc-Fit feature in the upper helps lock the foot into the shoe.

Bottom Line: A go-to shoe for injury-prone or heavier runners needing solid footing.
more…
https://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-400–14340-0,00.html

Moody’s Investors Service says NJ ‘comeback’ will lag nation

Sites state’s persistent high unemployment rate

A Wall Street ratings agency became the latest critic of Governor Christie’s “Jersey Comeback” on Monday with a report that said the state’s economic growth “will likely remain muted.”

Moody’s Investors Service cited New Jersey’s $230 million tax shortfall in the current state budget and the state’s persistent high unemployment rate in its Weekly Credit Outlook Monday.

“New Jersey’s fiscal 2013 revenue growth will likely remain muted given recent tax revenue trends and our expectation that the state’s economic recovery will lag the U.S.,” Moody’s said.  (Reitmeyer, The Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/152444575_N_J___comeback__will_lag_nation__agency_says.html

Cory Booker’s comments on Obama’s ‘nauseating’ campaign: Gaffe or calculated tactic?

A headshot of Cory Booker on one side, the GOP logo on the other.

Come again?

The day after Booker, a surrogate for the Obama re-election team, went on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and let thenation know he was nauseated by one of the president’s campaign tactics against Mitt Romney, the Democratic mayor of Newark found himself embroiled in a national conversation.

What did he mean? Was this a gaffe or calculated? How big a headache did he cause his party?  (Goldberg, The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/cory_bookers_nauseating_obama.html

Forty-three Catholic organizations file lawsuits against HHS mandate
By Michelle Bauman

Washington D.C., May 21, 2012 / 10:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Forty-three Catholic dioceses and organizations across the country have announced religious liberty lawsuits against the federal government to challenge the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.

The announcement was applauded by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, who called it “a compelling display of the unity of the Church in defense of religious liberty.”Washington D.C., May 21, 2012 / 10:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Forty-three Catholic dioceses and organizations across the country have announced religious liberty lawsuits against the federal government to challenge the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.

The announcement was applauded by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, who called it “a compelling display of the unity of the Church in defense of religious liberty.”

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/forty-three-catholic-organizations-file-lawsuits-against-hhs-mandate/

Celebrating it’s 75th year ,The Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company

Spring 2012 production

The Pirates of Penzance
Saturday, June 2
7:30 PM
Ridgewood United Methodist Church
100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ
201-652-2868
Web – www.ridgewoodumc.net
E-mail – ridgewoodumc@verizon.net
$18 Adults, $15 Seniors & Students

The Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, a nonprofit performing group, has presented full productions of the works of Gilbert and Sullivan on a regular schedule since its founding in 1937 by Kay and Jack Edson. For over 70 years we have delighted audiences with the timeless jollity of The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and H.M.S. Pinafore. As one of the oldest continuing musical theater groups in the country, we also perform those G & S works that are seldom seen elsewhere: Iolanthe, The Yeomen of the Guard, The Gondoliers, The Sorcerer and others.

In addition, we have been happy to bring joy to shut-ins by giving free shows for hospital patients, veterans, and residents of old-age communities. Furthermore, to enhance the cultural life of our community, we have donated a series of musical scores, recordings, and books on Gilbert and Sullivan to the Ridgewood Public Library.

The group’s talented workers (singers, orchestra, scenery and costume makers, etc.) have made it possible to give productions of professional quality. Young and old have thanked us for helping keep alive the great musical entertainment of Gilbert and SullivanWinners of three awards at the
International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival
Gettysburg, PA

Best Musical Director
JAMES A. BIDDLECOME
directing The Grand Duke (2010)

Best Female Performance
KERSTIN ANNA STEWART
as Julia in The Grand Duke (2010)

Best Character Actress
KERSTIN ANNA STEWART
as Buttercup in HMS Pinafore (2011)

Dharun Ravi gets 30 days in Rutgers spy cam trial
May 21, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood, NJ: A judge in New Brunswick sentenced Dharun Ravi to 30 days in jail today for using a webcam to spy on his Rutgers University roommate Tyler Clementi having sex with a man, The case galvanized concern about suicide among gay teenagers but also prompted debate about the use of laws against hate crimes and bullying.

The case drew wide attention because his roommate, Tyler Clementi of Ridgewood NJ  jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in September 2010, a few days after learning of the live streaming of his sexual encounter. A jury convicted Mr. Ravi in March of all 15 counts against him, which included invasion of privacy and bias intimidation. The relatively light sentence surprised many who were watching the hearing, as it came after the judge spent several minutes criticizing Mr. Ravi’s behavior. Ravi could have faced up to 10 years in prison.

RHS CELEBRATES THE ARTS: PUBLIC WELCOME MAY 24-25

Ridgewood High School’s Annual Celebration of the Arts, a two-day presentation of the work of visual and performing artists, will begin with a gallery opening and reception on Thursday, May 24 at 7 p.m. The reception will be followed by the Kick-off event at 7:15p.m. and then three concerts featuring the Choir & Orchestra, Small Ensembles and the Wind Ensemble.

Thursday evening’s opening events will be followed by a full day of exhibition and performance assemblies on Friday, May 25. Performances are scheduled throughout the day in the Campus Center and the Little Theatre. During the celebration, the halls, galleries and concert stages will be filled with displays and performances of more than 1,200 students as the districts’ administrators, teachers and students celebrate the work of visual artists, student musicians, dancers and actors.

The Celebration of the Arts galleries and performances are open to the public. There is no admission fee.