Amazon is sticking to its guns in the fight to protect customer data. The tech titan has filed a motion to quash the search warrant for recordings from an Amazon Echo in the trial of James Andrew Bates, accused of murdering friend Victor Collins in Bentonville, Arkansas in November 2015. And it’s arguing as part of that motion that the responses of Alexa, the voice of the artificially intelligent speaker, has First Amendment rights.
The case first came to light in December, when it emerged Amazon was contesting a warrant to provide audio from the Echo device covering a 48-hour period from November 21 through 22 2015, alongside subscriber and account information. Amazon handed over the subscriber information and purchase history, but in its 90-page argument against the warrant, filed late last week and published in full below, Amazon said recorded audio should have First Amendment protections and so it wanted the warrant thrown out.
Not only does Amazon believe Echo users’ voice commands are protected as free speech, but also the Alexa Voice Service response. Amazon argued that requests and responses to Alexa contained details that would reveal much about the user and their interests, and so deserved protection from government. Furthermore, as Alexa responses reflect in some way both the user’s and Amazon’s speech, she’s also protected, the lawyers said.
Ridgewood NJ, Piccolo Bistro, 29 Chestnut St., Ridgewood is offering special pricing of $25 per person Sunday through Thursday. For details piccolobistro.net. The off is on a 3-course Prix-Fixe menu .
Executive Chef, Giancarlo Borletti specializes in a fine contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. His sustainable and vanguardist style of cooking adds a creative and innovating flair to tradition.
Piccolo Bistro is located at 29 Chestnut Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Ridgewood NJ, Michael Fidanza, a New Jersey licensed real estate broker,announced the opening of a new brokerage, Positive Impact Realty, LLC, located in Ridgewood. Prior to opening Positive Impact Realty, Mr. Fidanza was a licensed salesperson for large franchise broker in Ridgewood for nearly five years.
“Positive Impact Realty was created differently from the very start. We put relationships before profits because people are more important than numbers,” said Mr. Fidanza, founder and broker/owner. “Our mission is to have a positive, meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of our clients, neighbors and communities in which we serve.”
Mr. Fidanza has been a resident of Ridgewood since 1995 and of Bergen County for much of his entire life. His background has been in technology and related industries and professions since 1979. In 2012, Mr. Fidanza joined Keller Williams in Ridgewood and was quite comfortable with their technology-strong agent platforms.
To augment the brokerage offerings, Mr. Fidanza will bring his knowledge and expertise in new media – specifically podcasting, blogging, and publishing on digital and traditional platforms, to the company. “In 2017, we will be launching community-centric initiatives to help residents and groups throughout the year,” said Mr. Fidanza.
Based in Ridgewood, Positive Impact Realty will cover the towns across Northern Bergen County. The main focus of the brokerage will be listing and selling residential properties including luxury homes, new construction, rentals and relocations.
….the fly has learned that a proprietor of a food establishment frequented by Ridgewood High School students during lunch periods (who wishes to remain anonymous) is reporting that employees of the business find a large number of discarded coins (several dollars worth) in their trash receptacles on a daily basis (yes, DAILY).
Seemingly, the youths of Ridgewood can’t be bothered carrying around loose change, so they just throw it away.
I wonder if behavior like this is being learned at home.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood PD Patrol Officers Colin Donnelly and Kyle Scarpa rendered assistance to an adult female with physical disabilities whose SUV became stuck on a small retaining wall in the parking lot of a medical office building located at 85 South Maple Avenue, Ridgewood on Thursday afternoon, 02/23. A flatbed tow truck successfully freed the vehicle from its predicament and the SUV was able to be driven away on its on power. The driver was uninjured in the mishap.
Mark Krulish , Staff Writer, @Mark_Krulish6:54 p.m. ET Feb. 23, 2017
Ridgewood — Testimony on behalf of an applicant proposing a multifamily housing development on Chestnut Street concluded in front of the Planning Board on Tuesday, though more steps remain before a final vote is taken.
The board will have the opportunity for its own experts to testify and undergo cross-examination. There will also be time for public comment on any aspect of the proposal before a final attorney summation and board discussion.
It is time to repeal each and every one of Obamacare’s tax increases. The full list is below:
Individual Mandate Non-Compliance Tax: Anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance – as defined by President Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services — must pay an income surtax to the IRS. In 2014, close to 7.5 million households paid this tax. Most make less than $250,000. The Obama administration uses the Orwellian phrase “shared responsibility payment” to describe this tax.
For tax year 2016, the tax is a minimum of $695 for individuals, while families of four have to pay a minimum of $2,085.
Households w/ 1 Adult
Households w/ 2 Adults
Households w/ 2 Adults & 2 children
2.5% AGI/$695
2.5% AGI/$1390
2.5% AGI/$2085
A recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that repealing this tax would decrease spending by $311 billion over ten years.
Medicine Cabinet Tax on HSAs and FSAs: Since 2011 millions of Americans are no longer able to purchase over-the-counter medicines using pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts dollars. Examples include cold, cough, and flu medicine, menstrual cramp relief medication, allergy medicines, and dozens of other common medicine cabinet health items. This tax costs FSA and HSA users $6.7 billion over ten years.
Flexible Spending Account Tax: The 30 – 35 million Americans who use a pre-tax Flexible Spending Account (FSA) at work to pay for their family’s basic medical needs face an Obamacare-imposed cap of $2,500. This tax will hit Americans $32 billion over the next ten years.
Before Obamacare, the accounts were unlimited under federal law, though employers were allowed to set a cap. Now, parents looking to sock away extra money to pay for braces find themselves quickly hitting this new cap, meaning they have to pony up some or all of the cost with after-tax dollars. Needless to say, this tax especially impacts middle class families.
There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap is particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. Families with special needs children often use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at special needs schools can run thousands of dollars per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education. This Obamacare tax increase limits the options available to these families.
Chronic Care Tax: This income tax increase directly targets middle class Americans with high medical bills. The tax hits 10 million households every year. Before Obamacare, Americans facing high medical expenses were allowed an income tax deduction to the extent that those expenses exceeded 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI). Obamacare now imposes a threshold of 10 percent of AGI. Therefore, Obamacare not only makes it more difficult to claim this deduction, it widens the net of taxable income. This income tax increase will cost Americans $40 billion over the next ten years.
According to the IRS, approximately 10 million families took advantage of this tax deduction each year before Obamacare. Almost all were middle class: The average taxpayer claiming this deduction earned just over $53,000 annually in 2010. ATR estimates that the average income tax increase for the average family claiming this tax benefit is about $200 – $400 per year.
HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike: This provision increases the tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.
Ten Percent Excise Tax on Indoor Tanning: The Obamacare 10 percent tanning tax has wiped out an estimated 10,000 tanning salons, many owned by women. This $800 million Obamacare tax increase was the first to go into effect (July 2010). This petty, burdensome, nanny-state tax affects both the business owner and the end user. Industry estimates show that 30 million Americans visit an indoor tanning facility in a given year, and over 50 percent of salon owners are women. There is no exception granted for those making less than $250,000 meaning it is yet another tax that violates Obama’s “firm pledge” not to raise “any form” of tax on Americans making less than this amount.
“Cadillac Tax” — Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans: In 2020, a new 40 percent excise tax on employer provided health insurance plans is scheduled to kick in, on plans exceeding $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Cadillac tax will hit 26 percent of employer provided plans by 2020 and 42 percent of employer provided plans by 2028. Over time, this will decrease care and increase costs for millions of American families across the country.
Health Insurance Tax: In addition to mandating the purchase of health insurance through the individual mandate tax, Obamacare directly increases the cost of insurance through the health insurance tax. The tax is projected to cost taxpayers – including those in the middle class – $130 billion over the next decade.
The total revenue this tax collects is set annually by Treasury and is then divided amongst insurers relative to the premiums they collect each year. While it is directly levied on the industry, the costs of the health insurance tax are inevitably passed on to small businesses that provide healthcare to their employees, middle class families through higher premiums, seniors who purchase Medicare advantage coverage, and the poor who rely on Medicaid managed care.
According to the American Action Forum, the Obamacare health insurance tax will increase premiums by up to $5,000 over a decade and will directly impact 1.7 million small businesses, 11 million households that purchase through the individual insurance market and 23 million households covered through their jobs. The tax is also economically destructive – the National Federation for Independent Businesses estimates the tax could cost up to 286,000 in new jobs and cost small businesses $33 billion in lost sales by 2023.
Employer Mandate Tax: This provision forces employers to pay a $2,000 tax per full time employee if they do not offer “qualifying” – as defined by the government — health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Employer Mandate Tax raises taxes on businesses by $166.9 billion over the ten years.
Surtax on Investment Income: Obamacare created a new, 3.8 percent surtax on investment income earned in households making at least $250,000 ($200,000 for singles). This created a new top capital gains tax rate of 23.8% and increased taxes by $222.8 billion over ten years.
The capital gains tax hits income that has already been subjected to individual income taxes and is then reinvested in assets that spur new jobs, higher wages, and increased economic growth. Much of the “gains” associated with the capital gains tax is due to inflation and studies have shown that even supposedly modest increases in the capital gains tax have strong negative economic effects.
Payroll Tax Hike: Obamacare imposes an additional 0.9 percent payroll tax on individuals making $200,000 or couples making more than $250,000. This tax increase costs Americans $123 billion over ten years.
Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers: This law imposes a new 2.3% excise tax on all sales of medical devices. The tax applies even if the company has no profits in a given year. The tax was recently paused for tax years 2016 and 2017. It will cost Americans $20 billion by 2025.
Tax on Prescription Medicine: Obamacare imposed a tax on the producers of prescription medicine based on relative share of sales. This is a $29.6 billion tax hike over the next ten years.
Codification of the “economic substance doctrine”: This provision allows the IRS to disallow completely legal tax deductions and other legal tax-minimizing plans just because the IRS deems that the action lacks “substance” and is merely intended to reduce taxes owed. This costs taxpayers $5.8 billion over ten years.
Elimination of Deduction for Retiree Prescription Drug Coverage: The elimination of this deduction is a $1.8 billion tax hike over ten years.
$500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives: This deduction limitation is a $600 million tax hike over ten years.
New Jersey has lost a step since the Great Recession when it comes to the health and well-being of young girls.
In “The State of Girls,” a 2017 report from the Girl Scout Research Institute, New Jersey ranked 12th among the states for girls’ well-being. The state ranked third in 2007.
Compared to a decade ago, a higher percentage of New Jersey girls are suffering from emotional, behavioral or developmental issues, the report states. Sixteen percent of girls aged 5 to 17 are living in poverty, compared to 11 percent in 2007.
According to the report, a larger percentage of girls in the 6 to 17 range watch TV or play video games at least three hours per day, while a smaller percentage are involved in community service or volunteer work, or participate in any organized activities.
“I think that has a huge impact on how the girls are feeling and their emotional well-being,” Stacy Petti, director of recruitment for Girls Scouts of the Jersey Shore, told New Jersey 101.5.
Kellyanne Conway doesn’t want you to call her a feminist.
The senior counselor to President Trump blasted the label as “anti-male” and “pro-abortion” in remarks at the Conservative Policial Action Conference on Thursday morning.
“It’s difficult for me to call myself a feminist in the classic sense, because it seems to be very anti-male and it certainly is very pro-abortion in this context. And I’m neither anti-male or pro-abortion,” she told The Washington Times’ Mercedes Schlapp in an onstage interview at the annual conservative gathering.
Conway’s remark came after Schlapp asked her about last month’s Women’s March protests, what the columnist described as the belief on the left that “all women pretty much should be Democrats,” and the idea of “conservative feminism.”
“There’s an individual feminism, if you will, but you make your own choices,” Conway continued. “I look at myself as a product of my choices not a victim of my circumstances, and that’s really, to me, what conservative feminism, if you will, is all about.”
As promised two days ago on the Sean Hannity radio show, James O’Keefe and his team at Project Veritas just released covertly captured, previously unheard audio footage from within the CNN newsroom. But unlike his usual undercover sting operations, this footage was allegedly sourced from a CNN insider who apparently grew frustrated with the perpetually biased reporting of the “fake news” media outlet.
Per O’Keefe’s website, today’s release includes 119 hours of secretly recorded raw footage from an inside source at CNN with another 100 hours of footage still to be released. Given the volume of footage to be released, O’Keefe is asking for help to transcribe and investigate the recordings and encourages users to provide tips on interesting discoveries here.
The audio was secretly recorded in 2009 by an anonymous source inside CNN’s Atlanta headquarters who we are identifying as Miss X. The tapes contain soundbites from current and previous CNN employees Joe Sterling, Arthur Brice, and Nicky Robertson, as well as numerous others.
DANCER BILL HELPS VETERANS RETAIN PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION
TRENTON NJ, Assemblyman Ron Dancer introduced legislation protecting property tax deductions for veterans. The bill (A4635) allows the deduction to be kept even if the home is placed in trust.
“Veterans who have earned their property tax deduction should retain that benefit as long as they occupy the home,” said Dancer (R—Ocean). “Veterans who protected our nation should also be able to protect their family and assets with sensible estate planning. As long as they continue to live in the home as a primary residence, they should be able to protect it in a trust without losing their deduction.”
Qualifying veterans can apply for an annual $250 property tax deduction for service to the country.
Mayor Fulop addressed the Senate Select Committee on School Funding Fairness
By Alyana Alfaro • 02/22/17 4:01pm
NEWARK – Advocates of changing New Jersey’s school funding formula often cite the booming Hudson County municipality of Jersey City as a school district they feel receives outsized state funding due to old school funding policies that do not take into account the economic growth of the past few years.
Fulop said he does not feel Jersey City should be penalized for funding schools according to current regulations. Alyana Alfaro for Observer
However, according to Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, such arguments only take into account the affluent waterfront section of the city and ignore primarily minority portions of the Jersey City that are significantly less well off. On Wednesday, Fulop addressed the Senate Select Committee on School Funding Fairness with concerns about the dangers of reducing school funding.
Washington Twp NJ, Prepare to be “razzle-dazzled” as the New Jersey Choral Society presents “Fosse: the Theater, the Music, the Legend.” The NJCS Pops Spectacular will focus on the musicals of the multi-award- winning choreographer and director Bob Fosse. Performances will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 8:00 pm and on Sunday, March 12 at 3:00 pm at the
Immaculate Heart Academy, 500 Van Emburgh Ave., Washington Township.
The rousing program, under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, features show-stopping songs from such Broadway musicals as “Chicago,” “Pippin” and “Sweet Charity.” Some of the song highlights include “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle” and “Cell Block Tango” from “Chicago;”“Magic to Do,” “Corner of the Sky,” “Morning Glow” and “No Time At All” from “Pippin” and“Big Spender,” “The Rhythm of Life,” “I’m a Brass Band” and “If My Friends Could See Me
Now” from “Sweet Charity.” “Steam Heat” from “Pajama Game” and “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Louis Prima, based on Benny Goodman’s original hit, will also be featured. Linda Sweetman-Waters will accompany NJCS on the piano along with the Pops SpectacularBand. The NJCS Festival Youth Chorus, directed by Noelle Dachis, will join NJCS as well as special guests, the Pops Spectacular Dance Troupe. Several talented soloists and vocal ensembles from NJCS will also be featured and Broadway veteran actor and his wife David and Britt Cryer will serve as the hosts.
Advance tickets are $25.00 for adults and $22.00 for students and seniors (add $5.00 at the door).A 10% discount for groups of 10 or more is also available. Come one hour prior to performance time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture for all ticket holders that provides an intimate and entertaining preview of the music. For reservations or more information, visit www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.
Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups, well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, France and next summer in Italy.Immaculate Heart Academy is wheelchair accessible. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
North Jersey Media Group, which publishes The Record and the Herald News, announced last month that 141 employees will receive layoff notices. The company reported the layoffs on its website, NorthJersey.com. North Jersey Media Group announced last year that 426 employees will receive notices required by New Jersey state law when “mass layoffs are imminent.
Posted by Alexander Roubian 176sc on February 22, 2017 · Add your reaction
The Ramsey Town Council is doubling down on its attempt to ban gun ranges. Our threat of an immediate lawsuit still stands and we will make good on our promise if the ordinance passes. The bad news for Ramsey is that the odds that they succeed in court are slim.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Ramsey story, you can read a refresher here. Ramsey is trying to pass an ordinance that would ban firing a gun anywhere inside the town, with no exceptions. This would have the effect of banning all gun ranges. This would prevent a gun range that has already been approved for construction from being operational. They couldn’t manage to stop the physical building, so now they’re telling the gun range owners, “You can have your range, but you can’t use it.” There’s just one problem with this.
