>I have news for the average taxpayer. Section 9002 of the healthcare bill requires your employer to add the cost of your medical insurance premiums to the gross income reported on your W2. In plain english what this is is a huge tax increase.
For example if your employers pays $5,000 per year for your medical insurance you will see a $5,000 increase in your gross income. If your income is subject to 25% taxes which is about average you will pay an extra $1,250 per year in federal income taxes.
How do you feel about a tax increase of this magnitude? How do you feel about the fact that this was not disclosed to you? Are you going to vote for the people who caused this to happen? Do you think change is in order?
>If your looking to run ads or get in touch with the Ridgewood Blog please send all correspondence to onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
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Conservatives have long blamed the New Jersey Supreme Court for making a mess of some of the state’s most vexing issues, from affordable housing to public school funding. Now those same conservatives are calling for Gov. Christie, a Republican, to start overhauling the court by replacing Justice John E. Wallace Jr. instead of renominating him when his first term ends May 20. (Lu, Inquirer)
Conservatives have long blamed the New Jersey Supreme Court for making a mess of some of the state’s most vexing issues, from affordable housing to public school funding. Now those same conservatives are calling for Gov. Christie, a Republican, to start overhauling the court by replacing Justice John E. Wallace Jr. instead of renominating him when his first term ends May 20. (Lu, Inquirer)
>State ‘spends’ over $15 billion on would-be taxes
New Jersey foregoes more than $15 billion a year in tax revenue through various credits, deductions, exemptions and other special provisions in the state’s tax code, a new state report shows. A 35-page report on these so-called “tax expenditures’ was released quietly last month by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration, to comply with a new law passed by the Legislature in January and signed by lame-duck Gov. Jon S. Corzine. (Symons, Gannett)
>Christie urges NJEA acceptance of salary freeze proposal, which teachers dismiss as gov ‘slush fund’
In the same letter he sent today to Barbara Keshishian, president of the New Jersey School Board Association, and Marie Bilik, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association, Gov. Chris Christie urged education associations and local school boards to adopt a proposal to provide additional state aid to school districts that have enacted year-long salary freezes. “The additional state aid to those districts that make the right choice and join in the shared sacrifice will ensure that more teachers stay in their jobs, more students will be able to participate in extracurricular activities, and protect educational services. While it is not the easy choice, it is the right choice and it shows we put New Jersey’s children first,” said Christie. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
The history of Easter reveals rich associations between the Christian faith and the seemingly unrelated practices of the early pagan religions. Easter history and traditions that we practice today evolved from pagan symbols, from the ancient goddess Ishtar to Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.
Easter, perhaps the most important of the Christian holidays, celebrates the Christ’s resurrection from the dead following his death on Good Friday. . . a rebirth that is commemorated around the vernal equinox, historically a time of pagan celebration that coincides with the arrival of spring and symbolizes the arrival of light and the awakening of life around us.
Ostara, Goddess of Spring and the Dawn (Oestre / Eastre)
Easter is named for a Saxon goddess who was known by the names of Oestre or Eastre, and in Germany by the name of Ostara. She is a goddess of the dawn and the spring, and her name derives from words for dawn, the shining light arising from the east. Our words for the “female hormone” estrogen derives from her name.
Ostara was, of course, a fertility goddess. Bringing in the end of winter, with the days brighter and growing longer after the vernal equinox, Ostara had a passion for new life. Her presence was felt in the flowering of plants and the birth of babies, both animal and human. The rabbit (well known for its propensity for rapid reproduction) was her sacred animal.
Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny both featured in the spring festivals of Ostara, which were initially held during the feasts of the goddess Ishtar | Inanna. Eggs are an obvious symbol of fertility, and the newborn chicks an adorable representation of new growth. Brightly colored eggs, chicks, and bunnies were all used at festival time to express appreciation for Ostara’s gift of abundance.
History of Easter Eggs and Easter Candy
The history of Easter Eggs as a symbol of new life should come as no surprise. The notion that the Earth itself was hatched from an egg was once widespread and appears in creation stories ranging from Asian to Ireland.
Eggs, in ancient times in Northern Europe, were a potent symbol of fertility and often used in rituals to guarantee a woman’s ability to bear children. To this day rural “grannywomen” (lay midwives/healers in the Appalachian mountains) still use eggs to predict, with uncanny accuracy, the sex of an unborn child by watching the rotation of an egg as it is suspended by a string over the abdomen of a pregnant woman.
Dyed eggs are given as gifts in many cultures. Decorated eggs bring with them a wish for the prosperity of the abundance during the coming year.
Folklore suggests that Easter egg hunts arose in Europe during “the Burning Times”, when the rise of Christianity led to the shunning (and persecution) of the followers of the “Old Religion”. Instead of giving the eggs as gifts the adults made a game of hiding them, gathering the children together and encouraging them to find the eggs. Some believe that the authorities seeking to find the “heathens” would follow or bribe the children to reveal where they found the eggs so that the property owner could be brought to justice.
Green Eggs . . . . . . and Ham???
The meat that is traditionally associated with Easter is ham. Though some might argue that ham is served at Easter since it is a “Christian” meat, (prohibited for others by the religious laws of Judaism and Islam) the origin probably lies in the early practices of the pagans of Northern Europe.
Having slaughtered and preserved the meat of their agricultural animals during the Blood Moon celebrations the previous autumn so they would have food throughout the winter months, they would celebrate the occasion by using up the last of the remaining cured meats.
In anticipation that the arrival of spring with its emerging plants and wildlife would provide them with fresh food in abundance, it was customary for many pagans to begin fasting at the time of the vernal equinox, clearing the “poisons” (and excess weight) produced by the heavier winter meals that had been stored in their bodies over the winter. Some have suggested that the purpose of this fasting may have been to create a sought-after state of “altered consciousness” in time for the spring festivals. One cannot but wonder if this practice of fasting might have been a forerunner of “giving up” foods during the Lenten season.
Chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs, marshmallow chicks in pastel colors, and candy of all sorts . . . these have pagan origins as well! To understand their association with religion we need to examine the meaning of food as a symbol.
The ancient belief that, by eating something we take on its characteristics formed the basis for the earliest “blessings” before meals (a way to honor the life that had been sacrificed so that we as humans could enjoy life) and, presumably, for the more recent Christian sacrament of communion as well.
Shaping candy Easter eggs and bunnies out of candy to celebrate the spring festival was, simply put, a way to celebrate the symbols of the goddess and the season, while laying claim to their strengths (vitality, growth, and fertility) for ourselves.
The Goddess Ostara and the Easter Bunny
Feeling guilty about arriving late one spring, the Goddess Ostara saved the life of a poor bird whose wings had been frozen by the snow. She made him her pet or, as some versions have it, her lover. Filled with compassion for him since he could no longer fly (in some versions, it was because she wished to amuse a group of young children), Ostara turned him into a snow hare and gave him the gift of being able to run with incredible speed so he could protect himself from hunters.
In remembrance of his earlier form as a bird, she also gave him the ability to lay eggs (in all the colors of the rainbow, no less), but only on one day out of each year.
Eventually the hare managed to anger the goddess Ostara, and she cast him into the skies where he would remain as the constellation Lepus (The Hare) forever positioned under the feet of the constellation Orion (the Hunter). He was allowed to return to earth once each year, but only to give away his eggs to the children attending the Ostara festivals that were held each spring. The tradition of the Easter Bunny had begun.
Easter Bunny had begun.
The Hare was sacred in many ancient traditions and was associated with the moon goddesses and the various deities of the hunt. In ancient times eating the Hare was prohibited except at Beltane (Celts) and the festival of Ostara (Anglo-Saxons), when a ritual hare-hunt would take place.
In many cultures rabbits, like eggs, were considered to be potent remedies for fertility problems. The ancient philosopher-physician Pliny the Elder prescribed rabbit meat as a cure for female sterility, and in some cultures the genitals of a hare were carried to avert barrenness.
Medieval Christians considered the hare to bring bad fortune, saying witches changed into rabbits in order to suck the cows dry. It was claimed that a witch could only be killed by a silver crucifix or a bullet when she appeared as a hare.
Given their “mad” leaping and boxing displays during mating season as well as their ability to produce up to 42 offspring each spring, it is understandable that they came to represent lust, sexuality, and excess in general. Medieval Christians considered the hare to be an evil omen, believing that witches changed into rabbits in order to suck the cows dry. It was claimed that a witch could only be killed by a silver crucifix or a bullet when she appeared as a hare.
In later Christian tradition the white Hare, when depicted at the Virgin Mary’s feet, represents triumph over lust or the flesh. The rabbit’s vigilance and speed came to represent the need to flee from sin and temptation and a reminder of the swift passage of life.
And, finally, there is a sweet Christian legend about a young rabbit who, for three days, waited anxiously for his friend, Jesus, to return to the Garden of Gethsemane, not knowing what had become of him. Early on Easter morning, Jesus returned to His favorite garden and was welcomed the little rabbit. That evening when the disciples came into the garden to pray, still unaware of the resurrection, they found a clump of beautiful larkspurs, each blossom bearing the image of a rabbit in its center as a remembrance of the little creature’s hope and faith.
Ishtar, Goddess of Love, and the First Resurrection (also known as Inanna)
Ishtar, goddess of romance, procreation, and war in ancient Babylon, was also worshipped as the Sumerian goddess Inanna. One of the great goddesses, or “mother goddesses”, stories of her descent to the Underworld and the resurrection that follows are contained in the oldest writings that have ever been discovered. . . the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish and the story of Gilgamesh. Scholars believed that they were based on the oral mythology of the region and were recorded about 2,100 B.C.E.
The most famous of the myths of Ishtar tell of her descent into the realm of the dead to rescue her young lover, Tammuz, a Vegetation god forced to live half the year in the Underworld. Ishtar approached the gates of the Underworld, which was ruled by her twin sister Eresh-kigel, the goddess of death and infertility. She was refused admission.
Similar to the Greek myths of Demeter and Persephone that came later, during Ishtar’s absence the earth grew barren since all acts of procreation ceased while she was away. Ishtar screamed and ranted that she would break down the gates and release all of the dead to overwhelm the world and compete with the living for the remaining food unless she was allowed to enter and plead her case with her twin.
Needless to say, she won admission. But the guard, following standard protocol, refused to let her pass through the first gate unless she removed her crown. At the next gate, she had to remove her earrings, then her necklace at the next, removing her garments and proud finery until she stood humbled and naked after passing through the seventh (and last) gate.
In one version, she was held captive and died but was brought back to life when her servant sprinkled her with the “water of life”. In the more widely known version of the myth, Ishtar’s request was granted and she regained all of her attire and possessions as she slowly re-emerged through the gates of darkness.
Upon her return, Tammuz and the earth returned to life. Annual celebrations of this “Day of Joy”, were held each year around the time of the vernal equinox. These celebrations became the forerunners of the Ostara festivals that welcomed Oestre and the arrival of spring.
A section on the Goddess Inanna (the Sumerian version of the Goddess Ishtar), her myths and symbols, is included with the myths of the goddesses at this website.
>Last week, President Obama signed historic health care reform legislation into law — but his legislative success doesn’t seem to have helped his image with the American public.
The latest CBS News Poll, conducted between March 29 and April 1, found Americans unhappier than ever with Mr. Obama’s handling of health care – and still worried about the state of the economy.
President Obama’s overall job approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 44 percent, down five points from late March, just before the health bill’s passage in the House of Representatives. It’s down 24 points since his all-time high last April. Forty-one percent of those polled said they disapproved of the president’s performance. …
When it comes to health care, the President’s approval rating is even lower — and is also a new all-time low. Only 34 percent approved, while 55 percent said they disapproved.
Americans are still worried about the economy, with 84 percent telling CBS they thought it was still in bad condition. However, even that high number represents an improvement: nine in ten thought the economy was bad during the last half of 2008 and at the beginning of 2009, when Mr. Obama assumed the Presidency.
Concern about job loss remains high; slightly more Americans now (35 percent) than in February (31 percent) were “very concerned” that someone in their household would lose a job. Nearly six in ten Americans said they were at least “somewhat concerned” about a job loss.
As has often been the case, lower-income Americans tend to be the most concerned about job loss.
This concern is reflected in yet another low approval rating — this time for the President’s handling of the economy. Just 42 percent said they approved of how President Obama is handling the economy, only one point above January’s all-time low. Half of the public disapproves.
The Cartel Movie Also Schedules a “New Jersey Swing”
No, the New Jersey Swing is not a dance, (as far as we know).
The Cartel movie has been scheduled for a series of one-night-only screenings throughout New Jersey, all to be followed by a Q&A with Director Bob Bowdon. All tickets $15. (No physical tickets will be printed or mailed; names will be on a list at the location. All sales final — no refunds.)
April 19Westfield*, NJRialto Theatre, 250 East Broad Street7:30pm April 20Sparta*, NJSparta Theatre, 25 Centre Street7:30pm April 21Hoboken*, NJClearview Cinema, 409 14th Street7pm, 9pm April 25Atlantic City*, NJResorts International Casino, Screening Room2pm April 26Mount Laurel*, NJBurlington Community College, Enterprise Center, 3331 Route 387:30pm April 27Red Bank*, NJClearview Cinema, 36 White Street 730pm April 28Paramus*, NJBergen County Community College, Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre, 400 Paramus Road7:30pm April 29Trenton*, NJNJ State Museum Auditorium, 205 W. State Street7:30pm
The Trenton Screening on April 29 will be the site of the 2010 New Jersey School Choice Rally.
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives today recognizing the efforts of state legislatures, Attorneys General and citizens to resist the implementation of the health care bill, HR 3590.
“While Congress is given power under the Constitution to regulate interstate commerce, never before have we considered legislation that would require individuals to purchase a private—government approved—product, as the price of citizenship,” Garrett said. “This moves far beyond regulating economic activity, and into the realm of regulating inactivity. If we allow that Congress has this authority under the Constitution, then there is virtually no limit to Washington’s power to micromanage the lives of our citizens.
“I would like to commend those fighting against this massive expansion of government into the private sector. President Obama and others have called this legislation “historic,” and they’re correct. It is “historic” that the federal government would violate the liberties of its citizens. It is “historic” that a political party would use their majority in Congress to override the will of the American people. It is “historic” that the president and Members of Congress, all of whom have taken oaths to uphold the Constitution, would express such disdain and disregard for our country’s founding document. Yes, my friends, this legislation is truly historic.”
The text of Garrett’s resolution is below:
111th CONGRESS
2nd Session
H. RES.
Commending the efforts of state legislatures, Attorneys General and citizens to resist the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
IN THE HO– USE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 25, 2010
Mr. SCOTT GARRETT of New Jersey
Commending the efforts of State legislatures, Attorneys General, and citizens to resist the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Whereas the expanding Federal Government is encroaching on the rights constitutionally reserved for the States and individuals;
Whereas the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act attempts to regulate inactivity rather than an activity of United States’ citizens and the Constitution does not grant the Federal Government the power to regulate inactivity;
Whereas Congress has never before considered, prior to the individual mandate, legislation that would require citizens to purchase a private good;
Whereas if Congress has this authority under the Constitution, there is virtually no limit to its power to micromanage the lives of our citizens;
Whereas the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act creates an entirely new Federal entitlement program, while the growing cost of existing Federal entitlement programs are already crippling future generations with mountains of debt;
Whereas the legislatures of more than three-fourths of all the States, including those of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, have proposed legislation reaffirming their 10th Amendment right to rule and govern in areas not specifically delegated to the Federal Government by the Constitution;
Whereas many of the bills proposed by the State legislatures recognize that numerous actions by Congress are weakening States’ rights through legislation like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act;
Whereas more than a dozen state Attorneys General, including those from Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,Utah, Virginia, and Washington, have filed or announced their intention to file lawsuits challenging Congress’s authority to force citizens to buy health insurance;
Whereas numerous doctors’ groups, such as New Jersey Physicians Inc., and individuals around the country have or are preparing to file suit against this unconstitutional law; and
Whereas 54 percent of Americans oppose the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and 56 percent of Americans think the Federal Government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) commends the efforts of State legislatures, Attorneys General, and citizens to resist the unconstitutional implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and
(2) applauds these groups’ endeavors to protect the rights and the interests of American citizens.
Dateline: Atlantic City -Morgan Stanley Bank filed Wednesday with the SEC indicating the impending sale/auction of their failing Revel casino. Morgan’s board recognized the failure of the casino before New Jersey state legislators, poised to pour $300 million into the project, recognized the danger of the risky investment.
In a shocking demonstration of the New Jersey State Legislature’s willingness to gamble on highly risky bailouts, under the guise of “economic development”, the Board of Morgan Stanley has indicated it would rather take the loss before pouring more money into the project. State legislators who voted for the project demonstrated they have no idea how bad the investment of $300 million of taxpayers is, or simply do not care. New Jersey needs legislators who understand the danger of these risky bailouts, not political hacks bowing to special interests. Once again, the lesson learned is that government should stay out of the private sector.
For the Revel bailout to continue forward would be reckless and irresponsible on a massive scale. Throwing money at Revel would be reminiscent of the $180 million lost on Lehman Brothers by the state pension system as they were on the way out of business.
CALL GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE TODAY AT 609-292-6000. Tell him not to gamble our taxpayer dollars on another risky and reckless bailout!
1. Demonstrate that Graydon remains a community gathering place, eliminating once and for all the argument that “no one goes there.” 2. Restock the Village’s coffers, refuting the complaint that “Graydon always loses money.” 3. Graydon is fun!
Our March 23 meeting PowerPoint slides provide the high points. In the section “Environmental Regulations and the Mystery of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook,” a professional geologist presents his new research on the likely hydraulic connection between Graydon, the aquifer, and the brook. He lists the permits that would probably be difficult for the Village to obtain if they tried to build there—including one required for construction in a flood hazard zone.
Ping-pong and storytime New this summer: ping-pong at Graydon. Lucy Rieger has donated a table; Marcia provided a net and paddles. Parks & Rec would welcome a second table and wants to bring storytime and related activities back to Graydon. If you have a spare ping-pong table or if you are a current or retired teacher interested in leading storytime (modest stipend available), please call Deputy Director Nancy Bigos at (201) 670-5560 to discuss details. Say that Preserve sent you.
>If there are any heros in the Village, it would be those who volunteer their time: Emergency Services Personell, EMT on the ambulance, and volunteer firefighters. Why are these volunteers not allowed to fill the lucrative $75 per hour ‘jobs’ when PSEG or other construction sites (such as the train station) require someone to direct traffic (we all know they sit in the car doing nothing- I have never seen one directing traffic) While sometimes out of town cops fill these positions, they are never given to our volunteers? Whats up with that?????
Hmmm its quite simple. Whenever there is a problem, emergency service volunteers are called upon to ‘help out’. One of their main tasks is when roads are blocked. If anyone is ‘qualified’ to direct traffic, it would be a member of emergency services. They should be offered their choice of these ‘traffic details’ at construction jobs. Let them have the $75 per hour. Its only fair. If they are not allowed, there is a simple answer. GREED by others.
>NEW YORK, March 29 /PRNewswire/ — Rent2Buy.com (formerly Automoti Group) announced today the April 2nd beta launch of its “rent-to-buy” interactive marketplace, serving as a single destination for consumers looking to forgo borrowing money for major essential and/or luxury purchases and instead apply the rental of those items as a down payment towards their future purchase.
The site was developed by Moti Kahana following the sale of his previous Automoti assets to Hertz , one of the best-known names in the rental space. Offering a preview of the multifaceted Rent2Buy marketplace, Hertz Rent2Buy marries the Company’s first-rate fleet of cars and fantastic customer service with unmatched technology in order to make executing and managing rent-to-buy transactions seamless.
Following next month’s launch, Rent2Buy.com will enable individuals to “try before they buy” big ticket purchases ranging from real estate and boats to designer fashions and jewelry. The site will essentially serve as an aggregator to bringing an eclectic mix of brands offering the rent-to-buy option to a one-stop shop for consumers.
Already popular among furniture and appliance sales, the rent-to-buy concept is especially appealing in today’s economically trying times, providing consumers with the products they need without the financial strain caused by an immediate or credited purchase.
“We are thrilled to introduce this concept to the online retail marketplace allowing consumers to ‘test drive’ virtually anything in the marketplace today,” says CEO of Rent2Buy.com, Moti Kahana. “We saw tremendous success when Hertz applied our business model to the car rental space and we look forward to leveraging that to other industries which showcase a demand for the rent-to-buy option.”
Included among the various non-automotive categories to initially be offered are furniture, jewelry, real estate, and others.
Founded in 2007, Rent2Buy.com (formerly Automoti Group) raises the bar for what a rent-to-buy marketplace should be. Utilizing its proprietary backend technology and virtual marketplace, the company enables retailers a hassle free means of creating additional revenue streams through the rent-to-own business model.
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