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photo by www.artchick.biz

Hey PJ,

Jeez…I go on a business trip for a few days and when I come back, I find that the VC floated a brilliant idea to give jail time for leaf policy scofflaws? While  I believe the council has since backed off ,

The first thing that came to mind was this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b0a6iWHSWbA (specifically 2:20-2:42)

It just goes to show you that no matter what (non) party is in power, this bunch or any of the prior bunches are tone-deaf.

Have a great weekend,

M

America’s Vanishing Economic Freedom
September 19,2012
We’re on a slippery slope.
By Michael Tanner

The 2012 Economic Freedom of the World report was released this week by the Cato Institute and Canada’s Fraser Institute, and it showed that the United States has plummeted to 18th place in the ranked list, trailing such countries as Estonia, Taiwan, and Qatar. Even such notorious welfare states as Finland and Denmark, not to mention Canada, have freer economies than we do.

Actually, the decline began under President George W. Bush. For 20 years the U.S. had consistently ranked as one of the world’s three freest economies, along with Hong Kong and Singapore. By the end of the Bush presidency, we were barely in the top ten.

And, as with so many disastrous legacies of the Bush era, Barack Obama took a bad thing and made it worse.

During the past four years, the U.S. saw significant declines in nearly all categories of the economic-liberty index. Most significant — and this should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention — is that the size of government grew substantially, particularly when measured by size of government subsidies and transfers and by government consumption as a share of national consumption.

As recently as 2005, the U.S. ranked 45th in size of government among the 144 nations surveyed. That was bad enough, but it still had us in the top third of the 144 countries surveyed. Today, government has grown dramatically, and our ranking has fallen to 61st place. By the metrics used, the U.S. now has a bigger government than Ukraine or Syria.

https://www.nationalreview.com/articles/327788/america-s-vanishing-economic-freedom-michael-tanner#

More Americans Added to Food Stamps Than Find Jobs
10:30 AM, SEP 21, 2012 • BY DANIEL HALPER

An alarming data point from the minority side of the Senate Budget Committee: More Americans are being added to food stamps than are finding jobs. The data is detailed in this chart, provided by the committee:

As the chart shows, between April-June 2012 (the most recent three month block for which government data is available), only 200,000 jobs have been created while 265,000 individuals have been added to the food stamp rolls. Additionally, in that time period, 246,000 workers were awarded disability.

Another chart shows that the last three month block is part of a larger trend. The chart, also from the minority side of the Senate Budget Committee, shows that “Workforce Shrinks Since January 2009 While Millions Sign Up For Disability And Food Stamps.”

https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/more-americans-added-food-stamps-find-jobs_652837.html

Obamanomics: For Every $1 Added to the Economy, Obama Added More Than $3 in Debt

Since Obama has taken office ….
[through Q2 2012 for comparative purposes]

–> For every $1 added to the economy, we’ve added more than $3 in debt

–> added $5.23 trillion in debt vs. $1.68 trillion to the economy
–> 50% increase in debt vs. 12% increase in economic output

Total Public Debt:

$10,626T [Jan 20, 2009]
$15,856T [Jun 30, 2012]

–> $5.23 trillion increase in debt

[source: Treasury Dept]

……

GDP

$13,923T [Q1 2009]
$15,606T [Q2 2012]

–> $1.68 trillion increase in GDP

[source: BEA]

Read more: https://nation.foxnews.com/government-spending/2012/09/17/every-1-added-economy-obama-added-more-3-debt#ixzz26of47MDG

Dr. Fishbein reports on Ridgewood Schools revised curricula in over 100 courses
September 15,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , in Superintendent Dr. Fishbein’s Opening of School Report, Dr. Fishbein presented to the Ridgewood Board of Education what he called “many important changes in our curricula and programs” .

Accoring to Dr. Fishbein .” last year, teachers and administrators revised curricula in over 100 courses, most for the purpose of aligning to the newest version of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards or the New Jersey Common Core State Standards. ”

Dr. Fishbein offered the key initiatives in this area are the implementation of a new science program in grades k to 8, continued refinement to math curricula in grades k to 8, and the expansion of the sail program to 12th grade.

New courses at RHS include Forensics, Flash Animation, Project-based Probability and Statistics, NonFiction Creative Writing, Spanish III, and Music Rewind.

Administrators received two days of training on the Stronge Teacher evaluation system in August, and they turn-keyed the information to their teachers on September 4/5. All reports are that it was successfully received.

In addition to implementing the new evaluation system this year, staff will also be working to pilot measures of student growth, which will be required by the NJDOE as part of teacher evaluations next year.

We are also moving this year to a new online formative assessment system for students in Grades 3-8. Measures of Academic Progress, from the North West Evaluation Association, is an adaptive test, meaning that it identifies instructional levels for students in reading and math, helping teachers to match their instruction more closely to individual needs. Administrators received their final day of training on this in August. Staff will begin to evaluate student results on the upcoming professional day in October.

all sourced form the “SUPERINTENDENT’S OPENING OF SCHOOL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, NEW PROGRAMS, FACILITIES UPDATE”

NY Giants name Ridgewood’s Johnson Coach Of The Week
September 14, 2012

The Giants selected Mr. Charles Johnson of Ridgewood High School as “The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week”

The New York Giants have selected Mr. Charles Johnson of Ridgewood High School (Ridgewood, NJ) as “The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week” for the week of September 10, 2012. The Maroons shutout the Kennedy Knights 27-0 at their season opener on Friday, September 7th.

In recognition of Coach Johnson’s success and commitment, he will receive a certificate of recognition signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin and a $1,000 check will be granted to the Maroons football program. Coach Johnson will be acknowledged by a stadium announcement when the Giants host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 16th and an announcement will also be posted on the Giants website, www.giants.com.

The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Week Award is part of the Giants’ continuing effort to promote youth football. The Giants elected to name the award in memory of former Union High School (NJ) coach, Lou Rettino, for his fine commitment to the game of football, his community and the betterment of his athletes’ lives.

Each week during the 2012 high school football season, the Giants will select one area high school head coach as the Coach of the Week winner. The selection is based on the coach’s continuing commitment towards promoting youth football, developing motivated student-athletes and his overall community involvement. At the conclusion of the 2012 season, the Giants will choose a Coach of the Year. That coach will receive $2,000 for their school’s football program. They will also be invited to attend a dinner hosted by the Giants.

Coach Johnson has been at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, NJ since 1984. This year marks his 29th season with the Ridgewood Maroons Football team and he has compiled a 182-99-1 record. His teams have won three Group IV State Sectional Championships and eight Division Championships. His overall football record, which includes his years coaching at Bogota High School in Bogota, NJ, is 217-114-2.

Coach Johnson and his family grew up in Ridgewood and his children attended the Ridgewood school systems. He is currently a Wellness teacher at Ridgewood High School.

https://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-name-Ridgewood%E2%80%99s-Johnson-Coach-Of-The-Week/6baff3c7-82bb-4482-846b-731bf50872f7

Egypt intelligence warns of attacks on Israel, US embassies on September 4

By JPOST.COM STAFF09/11/2012 16:58

Egypt’s General Intelligence Service warned that a jihadi group is planning to launch terrorist attacks against the US and Israeli embassies in Cairo, according to a report Tuesday by Egypt Independent, citing a secret letter obtained by Al-Masry Al-Youm.

According to the report, the attack is being planned by Global Jihad, the group suspected of killing 16 Egyptian border guards in Sinai on August 5.

Al-Masry Al-Youm reportedly obtained a copy of the September 4 letter, sent to all Egyptian security sectors, warning that Sinai- and Gaza-based Global Jihad cells were planning attacks on the two embassies.

https://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=284684

The week that could make or break the eurozone
Looming decisions could put the single currency back on track – or speed its ruin
TONY PATERSON

Europe stands on the threshold of a series of dramatic make-or-break decisions this week that will determine whether the eurozone can finally move towards resolving its long-running economic crisis or shift alarmingly towards the abyss of European disintegration.

Tomorrow judges at Germany’s constitutional court will decide if a hotly contested permanent rescue fund can be set up to help bail out ailing eurozone countries. A No verdict or even restrictive conditions could cause chaos on the markets and signal the beginning of a possible demise of the euro.

Their ruling will be followed by a general election in the Netherlands. The result could hand power to the Eurosceptic Labour party of Emile Roemer, which is riding on a wave of popular frustration over Europe. Such an outcome could sow disarray within Europe and seriously undermine the EU’s strategy for helping ailing eurozone countries.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-week-that-could-make-or-break-the-eurozone-8122407.htm

Movies suffer worst box-office slump in a decade
By Lisa Richwine and Jill Serjeant
LOS ANGELES | Sun Sep 9, 2012 6:58pm EDT

(Reuters) – The North American box office hit a slump at the weekend, with top earner “The Possession” taking in less than $10 million and what could be the gloomiest overall haul since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

With only a couple of new releases to tempt movie fans, horror movie “The Possession” pulled in an estimated $9.5 million in the United States and Canada.

That’s the first time since 2008 that no film took $10 million or more at the domestic box office.

Early September is historically sluggish. After blockbuster releases over the summer, Hollywood studios reserve their big films for the November and December holidays.

But revenues for the three-day movie-going weekend were particularly low, with the total gross for all films expected to be $65-$68 million.

If the numbers hold when final figures come in on Monday, it could make the weekend the worst since September 21-23 2001 – two weekends after 9/11 – when revenue topped out at $59.7 million.

“It is pretty scary when the top movie comes in at only $9.5 million,” said Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst at Hollywood.com.

“This is one of the worst-grossing weekends of the last 10 years. In the summer, single movies had opening weekends bigger than this entire weekend gross,” he added.

https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/09/entertainment-us-boxoffice-idUSBRE8880BN20120909

West Bergen Tea Party presents The NJ Strategic Plan

Gerard Scharfenberger
Dan Kennedy

NJ Office of Planning Advocacy
The Economy
Professor Murray Sabrin , Anisfield School of Business Ramapo College

Join us 7 pm, Tuesday, September 11at the Larkin House 380 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff (1/4 mile North of Stop & Shop on the right) Overflow Parking at Stop & Shop with Shuttle to the Larkin House More information: 201 891-5918 conservative_caucus@verizon.net https://www.westbergenteaparty.com/

Oscar Rivera, second from left, received surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm at The Valley Hospital though the Teaneck Rotary’s Gift of Life program. From left to right: Mariano Brizzio, M.D., Cardiac Surgeon, The Valley Columbia Heart Center; Mr. Rivera; Claudia Rivera; Paul Platek, Host Father; Carmen Platek, Host Mother; and Raymond Hough, The Gift of Life Committee Chair.

Oscar Rivera of Honduras Receives “Gift of Life” at The Valley Hospital

September 6 ,2012
Valley hospital

Ridgewood NJ, At age 34, Oscar Rivera was well acquainted with physical challenges. Born prematurely with severe congenital defects, he had endured several surgeries over the years to correct potentially life-threatening disorders. But nothing had prepared him for the news that he had a serious and complicated heart abnormality that could prove fatal if not immediately corrected. One day, while working at his job as a teacher in his home town of Comayagua, Honduras, Oscar lost consciousness going up some stairs. At the urging of his wife, Claudia, he went to his local doctor, who immediately sent him to a specialist in Honduras’ capitol city of Tegucigalpa. After several extensive tests, Oscar received the diagnosis: he had a large aortic aneurism and a faulty aortic valve, both of which needed to be repaired immediately. Without the surgery he would have two to three weeks at most to live.

Because the cost of the needed surgery was prohibitive and not covered by his insurance, Oscar returned home fearing the worst. Little did he know that life would soon begin to orchestrate several small miracles that, within a few short weeks would lead to the ultimate gift of a new lease on life. While he pondered his options, Oscar’s students and fellow teachers got busy raising funds in the hope that someone would be willing to take on his case. At the same time, Oscar’s brother searched the Internet for possible sponsors for his treatment. By chance he found the website of Cardio Start, a voluntary organization of cardiac surgeons who provide lifesaving surgery for patients in third world countries, and gave them Oscar’s grave prognosis. In another piece of luck, the information was forwarded to Mariano E. Brizzio, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey, who had recently arranged for several third world heart patients to receive their surgeries free of charge at Valley. Upon seeing the urgency of the case, he determined to do the same for Oscar.

Against all odds, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place and a picture of hope began to emerge. Dr. Brizzio arranged for Oscar to be sponsored by the Rotary Club’s Gift of Life program, which donates funds to hospitals willing to provide life-saving surgery for patients who cannot afford it. Although the program was created for children, the organization was willing to take on Oscar’s case. The Rotary Club also provided Oscar with a Spanish-speaking host family, Carmen and Paul Platek of Teaneck, who have been active Rotarians for many years. In terms of the surgery itself, Valley Hospital agreed to donate the medical services required for Oscar’s surgery.

On July 5, Oscar and his wife arrived at Newark International Airport, tired, speaking very little English, and not knowing what to expect. By the following Monday, Oscar was wheeled into surgery where his heart was successfully repaired by Dr. Brizzio. That same week, Dr. Brizzio was honored with The Rotary Club’s Gift of Life “Humanitarian Award” at Season’s restaurant in Washington Township.

Today Oscar is on his way to a full recovery and a bright future. He and Claudia are looking forward to returning home to rejoin their 4-year-old son, Oscar, Jr., and the many friends and supporters who helped set this miracle in motion. When asked about how this experience has changed his view on life, Oscar replied, “I feel like I have been born again, that I have a purpose, and I feel blessed that so many people worked so hard to make this possible for me.” Dr. Brizzio is hoping to create a foundation that would fund similar surgeries for adult third world patients in the U.S.

For more information about The Rotary’s Gift of Life program, call 201-689-6000. For more information about Valley’s cardiac surgery program, please call 201-447-8377.

https://www.valleyhealth.com/valley_newsdesc.aspx?newsid=1259

Eastwood says his convention appearance was ‘mission accomplished’
By PAUL MILLER
Published: September 7, 2012

AFTER A week as topic No. 1 in American politics, former Carmel Mayor Clint Eastwood said the outpouring of criticism from left-wing reporters and liberal politicians after his appearance at the Republican National Convention last Thursday night, followed by an avalanche of support on Twitter and in the blogosphere, is all the proof anybody needs that his 12-minute discourse achieved exactly what he intended it to.

“President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people,” Eastwood told The Pine Cone this week. “Romney and Ryan would do a much better job running the country, and that’s what everybody needs to know. I may have irritated a lot of the lefties, but I was aiming for people in the middle.”

Breaking his silence

For five days after he thrilled or horrified the nation by talking to an empty chair representing Obama on the night Mitt Romney accepted the Republican nomination for president, Eastwood remained silent while pundits and critics debated whether his remarks, and the rambling way he made them, had helped or hurt Romney’s chances of winning in November.

But in a wide-ranging interview with The Pine Cone Tuesday from his home in Pebble Beach, he said he had conveyed the messages he wanted to convey, and that the spontaneous nature of his presentation was intentional, too.

“I had three points I wanted to make,” Eastwood said. “That not everybody in Hollywood is on the left, that Obama has broken a lot of the promises he made when he took office, and that the people should feel free to get rid of any politician who’s not doing a good job. But I didn’t make up my mind exactly what I was going to say until I said it.”

Eastwood’s appearance at the convention came after a personal request from Romney in August, soon after Eastwood endorsed the former Massachusetts governor at a fundraiser in Sun Valley, Idaho. But it was finalized only in the last week before the convention, along with an agreement to build suspense by keeping it secret until the last moment.

Meanwhile, Romney’s campaign aides asked for details about what Eastwood would say to the convention.

“They vet most of the people, but I told them, ‘You can’t do that with me, because I don’t know what I’m going to say,’” Eastwood recalled.
And while the Hollywood superstar has plenty of experience being adored by crowds, he said he hasn’t given a lot of speeches and admitted that, “I really don’t know how to.” He also hates using a teleprompter, so it was settled in his mind that when he spoke to the 10,000 people in the convention hall, and the millions more watching on television, he would do it extemporaneously.

“It was supposed to be a contrast with all the scripted speeches, because I’m Joe Citizen,” Eastwood said. “I’m a movie maker, but I have the same feelings as the average guy out there.”

Eastwood is a liberal on social issues such as gay marriage and abortion, but he has strongly conservative opinions about the colossal national debt that has accumulated while Obama has been president, his failure to get unemployment below 6 percent, and a host of other economic issues.

“Even people on the liberal side are starting to worry about going off a fiscal cliff,” Eastwood said.

https://www.pineconearchive.com/120907-1.html

file photo TSA in action

TSA Kicks Woman Off Flight For Bad Attitude, wow are we in trouble

Screener admits move was retaliatory and had nothing to do with security

TSA continues Harassment Policy of american citizens

Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
Friday, September 7, 2012

A TSA screener admitted to a woman traveling through Houston Airport that she was prevented from boarding her flight for retaliatory reasons as punishment for a bad attitude rather than any genuine security threat, after the woman refused to allow TSA agents to test her drink for explosives.

https://www.infowars.com/tsa-kicks-woman-off-flight-for-bad-attitude/

The audio and video in the clip above is scratchy, but the woman is heard saying, “Let me get this straight, this is retaliatory for my attitude, this is not making the airways safer it’s retaliatory.”

“It pretty much definitely is,” the TSA screener responds.

The incident began when the woman refused to allow TSA agents to carry out a controversial policy where they test drinks for explosives that are purchased by passengers after they have already passed through security.

“This was inside the terminal at the Houston airport,” the woman writes on her You Tube channel. “I was not allowed to board a plane (even though I had already been through airport security) because I drank my water instead of letting the TSA “test” it. The TSA agent finally admitted that it wasn’t because they thought I was a security risk – it was because they were mad at me!”

https://www.infowars.com/tsa-kicks-woman-off-flight-for-bad-attitude/