Month: February 2013

1976 movie Network

Childhood TV addicts more likely to commit crime: study

Children who watch excessive amounts of television are more likely to have criminal convictions and show aggressive personality traits as adults, a New Zealand study has found.

The University of Otago study tracked the viewing habits of about 1,000 children born in the early 1970s from when they were aged five to 15, then followed up when the subjects were 26 years old to assess potential impacts.

The research, published in the US journal “Pediatrics” this week, found a strong correlation between childhood exposure to television and anti-social behaviour in young adults.

“The risk of having a criminal conviction by early adulthood increased by about 30 percent with every hour that children spent watching television on an average weeknight,” co-author Bob Hancox said.

The study also found excessive TV viewing was linked to aggressive personality traits and an increased tendency to experience negative emotions.

https://www.breitbart.com/system/wire/CNG—1a375f61c4fecd62c875b26fef9823cd—261

US business hits out at ‘Obamacare’ costs
By Barney Jopson in New York and Alan Rappeport in Washington

US retailers and restaurants chains that employ millions of low-wage workers are considering cutting working hours or paying fines rather than enrolling employees in health insurance plans under Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare law.

Employers are concerned that the law increases the cost of insuring employees on existing plans, partly by broadening the range of benefits. It also requires companies to insure some employees not previously covered.

https://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b2bce37c-7644-11e2-8eb6-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2LLG8TFZH

Ridgewood Police Remind Residents that the fraudulent use of credit card information is on the rise.

The Ridgewood Police Department would like to warn residents that the fraudulent use of credit card information is on the rise. A card does not have to be stolen for someone to use information.

Police advise residents to take the time to review statements carefully to confirm all charges. When using a card, make sure to watch the clerk and retrieve it immediately, police said. If residents find questionable charges, they should notify their credit card company and inform them of the concern. Residents should also obtain a copy of their credit report at least once a year and make sure all accounts that appear on the report are valid.

Middle school curriculum revised in Ridgewood
Monday February 18, 2013, 1:04 PM
BY  LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

Ridgewood school district administrators are addressing a district-wide dip in language arts test scores after elementary school.

In the next school year, the sixth grade middle school curricular offerings will be slightly revised in an attempt to improve language arts literacy.

There is a new requirement that all sixth-grade students take four quarter-year English courses in addition to their year-long core English class. To accommodate the requirement, administrators are deferring students’ ability to choose elective courses until grades 7 and 8. They have also removed a sixth grade, quarter-year “Technology Literacy” class.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/191695271_Middle_school_curriculum_revised_in_Ridgewood.html

Ridgewood Council puts parking permit plan on hold
Monday February 18, 2013, 10:49 AM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood Council defeated an ordinance that would have handed over the 23 parking spaces on Heermance Place to the Board of Education. The village will, however, revisit the issue sooner rather than later, officials said.

School district officials called for a change in their request that the village convert the spots on the municipally owned street into permit parking spaces. Permits are expected to be issued to Ridgewood High School faculty and staff.

The change, which would impact effective hours, was deemed “substantive” by Village Attorney Matt Rogers, who advised the council to defeat |the previously introduced ordinance and return with an updated version.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/191676371_Ridgewood_Council_puts_parking_permit_plan_on_hold.html

East side of Ridgewood Train station getting a makeover
Monday February 18, 2013, 1:04 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

If funding falls into place and the weather cooperates, members of the newly formed Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands (CRPL) hope to give the east |side of the NJ Transit railway a facelift this spring and replace |the overgrown brush with lush landscaping.

CPRL officers Maribeth Lane and Cynthia Hallaby presented a rough outline of the plan at last week’s Ridgewood Council work session and earned the endorsement of the entire governing body. The project will be fully paid for through CPRL’s wallets, which are filled through fundraisers and donations.

“This is so wonderful,” Mayor Paul Aronsohn said. “We’re a big fan of the conservancy, and we really appreciate the work that you’re doing.”

The proposal marks the first major undertaking for the group, which was created last fall with the intention of providing funding and support to restore and improve Ridgewood parks. Planning started in December, according to Lane, and more than 50 local families have already responded with donations for the multi-faceted project.

https://www.northjersey.com/community/191695261_East_side_of_Ridgewood_Train_station_getting_a_makeover.html

NJ hospitals pioneer cost-cutting model
Posted: Feb 18, 2013 10:42 AM EST Updated: Feb 18, 2013 10:43 AM EST
By GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press

PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) – A program to reduce medical costs in New Jersey is going national.

Since 2009, a dozen New Jersey hospitals have given doctors bonuses when they save the hospitals money as they treat patients covered by Medicare. It’s a concept called gainsharing.

The New Jersey Hospital Association says costs have been reduced 8 to 10% at the hospitals over the first three years of the program.

Read more: https://www.myfoxny.com/story/21232207/nj-hospitals-pioneer-cost-cutting-model#ixzz2LGeZTUDi

Surfing the internet for long periods of time can cause withdrawal symptoms ‘similar to people on a comedown from ecstasy’

The results showed heavy web users tend to be more depressed and show higher levels of autism traits
When people come off-line, they suffer increased negative mood – just like people coming off illegal drugs

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 12:16 EST, 17 February 2013 | UPDATED: 18:29 EST, 17 February 2013

Using the internet for hours on end can result in withdrawal symptoms similar to the ‘comedown’ experienced by drug users, scientists warned yesterday.

Researchers found spending excessive periods of time surfing the internet left people in ‘negative moods’.

Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2280074/Surfing-internet-long-periods-time-cause-withdrawal-symptoms-similar-people-comedown-ecstasy.html#ixzz2LGfUyVv2

Bid award for ramp at Graydon Pool postponed
Monday February 18, 2013, 12:28 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

In what has become a years-long process, the Ridgewood Council will wait until next month to approve a contract for the construction of an ADA-compliant ramp at Graydon Pool.

Plans and specifications for the ramp were approved last week, but the Village Council was advised to hold its award to the project’s lowest responsible bidder. Ridgefield-based C and C Masonry came in with a bid of approximately $48,000.

“We ran into a timing difficulty,” Village Manager Ken Gabbert said of the delay. The plans have been held up in Trenton, where they are being reviewed according to standard procedure.

“We have not gotten the OK in terms of the plans to make the award to the contractor,” he said. “Hopefully, Trenton will make a good turnaround and we’ll be back on schedule.”

https://www.northjersey.com/recreation/191689951_Bid_award_for_ramp_at_Graydon_Pool_postponed.html

file photo Ridgewood NJ

Gas prices have risen for 32 days straight, according to AAA.

That means that the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has increased more than 13% over that period to $3.73.

It’s hitting wallets right in the middle of winter, when people are already looking at large home heating bills. And it comes just after many Americans have been hit with smaller paychecks, and are worried about looming budget cuts that could deliver an even deeper blow.

What’s behind the higher prices at the pump? It’s a confluence of factors, from rising crude oil prices, to production cuts and refinery closings.

“Right now, things are tight worldwide,” said Ray Carbone, president of New York commodities trading firm Paramount Options. “Refineries going down, unanticipated maintenance, and higher demand … going into driving season.”

https://money.cnn.com/2013/02/17/news/economy/gas-prices/

Menendez swearing in Mayor Paul Aronsohn Photo by Boyd Loving

Port deal tied to Menendez under scrutiny

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — When the U.S. Embassy set out to press the Dominican government over a long-stalled contract to provide port security, American officials took on some tough opponents. The deal had languished for more than a decade amid stiff resistance from the American Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of American and local businessmen in the Dominican Republic, and the country’s customs authorities.

Ambassador Raul Yzaguirre’s team pushed the government to enforce the contract — which calls for operating X-ray scanners to screen cargo at the country’s ports — despite objections over its merits and its price tag. (Washington Post)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/191574241_Port_deal_tied_to_Menendez_under_scrutiny.html

Senator Bob Menendezat Ridgewood REORG photo by Boyd Loving

Report: FBI investigating whether Menendez solicited prostitutes

The Washington Post is reporting that the FBI is investigating allegations that U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez solicited prostitutes while traveling in the Dominican Republic but has so far failed to substantiate the claim.

According to the Post, the investigation includes the allegations that some of the prostitutes were underage. (Isherwood/PolitickNJ)

https://www.politickernj.com/63306/report-fbi-investigating-whether-menendez-solicited-prostitutes

Leading Geneticist: Human Intelligence is Slowly Declining
by Mike Barrett
February 17th, 2013 | Updated 02/18/2013 at 4:02 am

Would you be surprised to hear that the human race is slowly becoming dumber, and dumber? Despite our advancements over the last tens or even hundreds of years, some ‘experts’ believe that humans are losing cognitive capabilities and becoming more emotionally unstable. One Stanford University researcher and geneticist, Dr. Gerald Crabtree, believes that our intellectual decline as a race has much to do with adverse genetic mutations. But there is more to it than that.

According to Crabtree, our cognitive and emotional capabilities are fueled and determined by the combined effort of thousands of genes. If a mutation occurred in any of of these genes, which is quite likely, then intelligence or emotional stability can be negatively impacted.

Read more: https://naturalsociety.com/leading-geneticist-human-intelligence-slowly-declining/#ixzz2LFc6CSxV