>Global Warming Hoax: Arctic scientist under investigation
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Just five years ago, Charles Monnett was one of the scientists whose observation that several polar bears had drowned in the Arctic Ocean helped galvanize the global warming movement.
Now, the wildlife biologist is on administrative leave and facing accusations of scientific misconduct.
The federal agency where he works told him he was on leave pending the results of an investigation into “integrity issues.” A watchdog group believes it has to do with the 2006 journal article about the bear, but a source familiar with the investigation said late Thursday that placing Monnett on leave had nothing to with scientific integrity or the article.
Developer abandons 205 Lotte Rd. leaves it in Blighted Condition
Seven years ago Suresh Sharma of Ho Ho Kus razed the house on the corner of Lotte Rd. and Lincoln Ave. better known as 205 Lotte Rd. Since that time he has maintained a construction site that has become a blight on our neighborhood.
Several years ago a group of neighbors went before the Mayor and Council to seek a solution, which never materialized. Today a partially constructed house with a rotting plywood frame occupies the garbage-strewed lot. A bunch of rebars is seen among the trees; piles of gravel remain untouched for months, and a porta potty is present for workers who never appear but is often used by passing drivers.
This disgraceful site has aversely affected our property values, robs the Village of Ridgewood of valuable tax dollars, and is a thumb in the eye of everyone in the neighborhood.
That’s why I have decided to try to do something. I have prepared photo posters of the site and intend to present them to the Mayor and Council. I will prepare a letter signed by all who support this effort and send it to Mr. Sharma. And finally I will attempt to have an article published in the local newspapers about Mr. Sharma’s construction site.
I hope you can support this effort. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Please contact me at 255 Lotte Rd. Ridgewood, N.J., 201-410-6025, [email protected].
>The Debt Ceiling: Just the Facts Garrett discusses the ongoing debate to raise the debt ceiling on CNN.
Each year, Congress is tasked with the job of establishing a budgetary framework to dictate how the federal government will spend its money. When the decision is made to spend more than the amount we take in, we have to finance the excess spending by accruing debt that must later be paid off.
Over the course of history, borrowing by the federal government has been a common practice. Many presidential administrations have run deficits and many have added substantially to the national debt. Additionally, many Congresses have raised the debt ceiling before. In fact, since 1962, Congress has voted 74 separate times to raise the debt ceiling.
Given our country’s penchant for taking on more debt, one has to wonder why it is so difficult to do it again this time. Why all the sudden is Congress so opposed to extending the borrowing limit when they’ve done it so many times before? The answer becomes much clearer when we consider a few facts.
In 1980, the national debt represented just over 40% of the nation’s entire economy. Today, this figure has grown to represent 100% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and our debt is projected to double the size of our economy by 2035. Since 1960, total government spending at all levels has risen from 27% to 37% of GDP and is set to reach 50% by 2038 under the current projections.
Our nation’s entitlement programs are becoming so large – and will consume such a significant portion of our finances – that it will be impossible for us to fund other areas of our government without borrowing substantially from the rest of the world at very high interest rates.
As you can see, while past administrations and Congresses have had the luxury of extending the borrowing limit with relatively little consequences to the overall economy, I think we can all agree that we’ve reached a moment of reckoning. If we do nothing, if we choose to put off the tough decision for another day, we are at risk of becoming the next Greece.
So the question remains: How do we move forward?
There are many competing proposals that are floating around that can become complicated and confusing for everyone following at home. The approach that I and many House and Senate Republicans have put forth would cut government spending by $111 billion next year and place enforceable caps on discretionary spending levels going forward. And to avoid this issue in the future, it would require Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution in exchange for raising the debt ceiling to the level requested by the president. This plan would seek to tackle the deficit through spending restraints, not tax increases.
The competing proposals are very different in nature, but ultimately have the same end goal in mind, which is to restore the prosperity of our great nation. I respect my colleagues across the aisle and understand their motivations for supporting the approach they’ve endorsed. These are certainly tough choices that will affect many Americans and will make unfortunate cuts to some popular programs.
As Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I can assure you that these cuts are not being made as a function of protecting “special interests” or targeting helpless victims. Instead, these are being made in response to a 50-year trend of fiscal irresponsibility and excess spending that forced us to this point. This is exactly the kind of discipline and honesty we need right now in Washington to avoid even harsher predicaments in the future.
>PSE&G : The old street light scam is back in the news once again
the fly wonders if the Village is still paying the same rate to PSEG even though some 250 plus street lights have been out or missing the better part of this decade..
Seems the old street light scam is back in the news once again . Several years ago a Village resident and engineer noticed the case of the disappearing street lights and reported it to the Village council . The resident met with disdain and was written off by the powers that be . Since that time sources at the County Seat have confirmed this is a county wide problem.
Inside sources tell the fly the the Village is charged by PSEG for a certain number of street lights , yet often when a light goes dark its is never replaced or in some cases when a utility pole is removed or replaced the light is not put back on the pole .
The Mayor has noticed the Village is still paying the bill for these lights regardless and the fly is “sure” that PSEG is making every effort to adjust the Villages electric rate for the missing lights , hummmm I wonder….
Join Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Wisdom Panel Photo Contest! Upload a photo of your mixed breed dog to The Ridgewood Vet Facebook wall (www.facebook.com/ridgewoodvet). The top 3 dogs with the most “likes” by August 15th will win a free Wisdom Panel Professional, Mixed Breed Genetic Analysis and a gift vertificate to the hospital! Please download the attached flyer for official rules. Good Luck!
Did Ridgewood apply with the NJDOT and NJT to become a “Transit Village”
I would like to know whether it is true that we are a “Transit Village”. According the the state of NJ website, https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village/
“Municipalities must meet the Transit Village Criteria and complete a Transit Village Application in order to be designated a Transit Village”
Did Ridgewood apply? I am not passing judgement on whether “Transit Village” is good or bad, but would like to get at whether it is factual that we are one
“The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT spearhead a multi-agency Smart Growth partnership known as the Transit Village Initiative. The Transit Village Initiative create incentives for municipalities to redevelop or revitalize the areas around transit stations using design standards of transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD helps municipalities create attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods where people can live, shop, work and play without relying on automobiles.
Municipalities that are committed to TOD may be eligible for NJDOT Transit Village designation. The Transit Village Initiative is an excellent model for Smart Growth because it encourages growth in areas where infrastructure and public transit already exist. Municipalities must meet the Transit Village Criteria and complete a Transit Village Application in order to be designated a Transit Village
In addition to community revitalization, the Transit Village Initiative seeks to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by increasing transit ridership. Studies have shown that adding residential housing options within walking distance of a transit facility; typically a one-half mile radius, increases transit ridership more than any other type of development. Therefore, one of the goals of the Transit Village Initiative is to bring more housing, businesses and people into the neighborhoods around transit stations.”
>Reader thinks fines for stray shopping carts is a bit over the top
I live on the westside not far from town. From time to time I’ll find shopping a cart on the sidewalk nearby (usually Stop & Shop). I call the respective supermarket & the next time I check it, it is gone.
Maybe the problem is the neighbors don’t call the supermarkets to retrieve their property. It’s hard to fathom what (& why) bureaucratic measures the village has taken against such useful (&nice) stores.
P.S. I have found them jutting into the road & just place them neatly on the sidewalk for the store pickup.
This was first mentioned id Ed Sullivan’s tribute to Paul Aronsohn — the relevant passage is “well capitalized companies will be able to undertake and complete the kind of large scale projects that are needed that are needed to transform Ridgewood into a thriving semi-urban environment that will offer an array of desirable high wage jobs along with upscale living accommodations that will befit a younger,more upwardly mobile population.”
While semi-urban isn’t a technically defined term, it is clear what Sullivan has in mind – large scale projects, Ridgewood becoming a place of work for high scale jobs, and attracting what used to be called yuppies.
1. I like Ridgewood the way it is. 2. Yuppies like a place like Hoboken or the new Jersey City area that is a short jump into NYC, so I don’t think Ridgewood is a likely destination (till they have families). 3. Businesses also Hoboken, the “new” Jersey City, Weehawken, because of quick ferry, path, bus into NYC. I don’t think we can compete even if we wanted to
>Rick Perry Accuses Obama Of Leaving Astronauts To ‘Hitchhike Into Space’ July 21, 2011 3:03 PM
ABC News’ Michael Falcone (@michaelpfalcone) reports:
As America bids farewell to the space shuttle era on Thursday, likely presidential candidate Rick Perry appears none too pleased with the Obama administration, accusing the president of “leaving American astronauts with no alternative but to hitchhike into space.”
In a sharply worded statement issued by the governor of Texas — the state is home to the Johnson Space Center — Perry charges that the Obama Administration “continues to lead federal agencies and programs astray, this time forcing NASA away from its original purpose of space exploration, and ignoring its groundbreaking past and enormous future potential.”
>Some Latin American presidents mock U.S. for debt woes By Brian Winter
SAO PAULO, July 20 (Reuters) – After three decades spent battling their own debt crises and getting constantly lectured about them by Uncle Sam, many Latin Americans are watching the countdown to a possible default in Washington with a mix of schadenfraude and fear of what a collapse might mean for them.
For everybody from presidents on down to street vendors, seeing U.S. politicians argue over where to make painful budget cuts has also been a reminder that those days are over in Latin America. For now, at least, as most of the region enjoys an era of economic prosperity and comparatively tiny deficits.
>Scott Garrett : End of the Line: Our Last Chance for Spending Sanity By Rep. Scott Garrett July 19, 2011
Here we are, just days from a defining moment for this Congress and our nation as a whole – raising the amount of money the United States government can continue to borrow. Rarely in life do we have retrospective vision on failed policies as well as foresight to see an imminent disaster. It is equally rare to be handed an opportunity to correct those problems and make decisions, even if they are not popular, that will affect every future generation of Americans.
Of course, we all know President Obama is asking Congress for another blank check to borrow and spend as he wishes. We also know – from the comical budget he presented to Congress earlier this year – the president is not at all serious about addressing the reality of our $14 trillion national debt and the $188 million that we add to it every hour.
A lot has been said about the catastrophic consequences of not raising the debt limit. I agree, the debt ceiling must be raised, but I firmly believe that failing to immediately address federal spending presents the same risk to our country as failing to raise the debt ceiling. It is crucial that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle understand this is a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Maintaining good credit means more than raising your credit card limit.
I have yet to hear a convincing argument that can explain how taking money away from businesses and corporations as they begin to turn a profit creates jobs. With unemployment locked in above 9% nationally, it is amazing to think that anyone would even offer raising taxes as a feasible solution.
Every dollar the federal government takes out of the American economy is a dollar that cannot be used by American companies and entrepreneurs to create jobs and grow the economy. That is why I will not vote for a debt ceiling increase that involves any tax increases on any segment of the American population. Period.
My colleagues and I in the Republican Study Committee (RSC) have proposed a “Cut, Cap and Balance” solution to end our spending addiction and pay off our nation’s debt. This three-pronged approach would both rein in spending now and ensure we never end up with $14 trillion in debt ever again.
Here’s how it works:
The first step is making discretionary and mandatory spending reductions that would cut the deficit in half next year. This includes evaluating every aspect of the federal government, including entitlement programs.
The second step is setting enforceable caps to align federal spending with average revenues at 18% of GDP. This includes enforcing automatic spending reductions if the caps are breached in any given year.
Finally, the last step is passing a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. Congress’s past failure to produce balanced budgets is a major cause of the fiscal crisis facing the country. It is past time that Congress accepts a limit on its runaway spending so that the federal government can join the 49 states that already govern with some form of a balanced budget.
Of course, it will not be easy to convince my colleagues to support this plan. It involves making difficult decisions and confronting years of irresponsible behavior dating back to before many of us began to serve. Real solutions are not necessarily easy solutions. But given the dangerous condition of our nation’s fiscal health, and the long-standing desire to leave our country in a better state for the next generation, we must recognize that tough choices will be necessary.
No one wants to clean up someone else’s mess, but our constituents sent us to Washington to make difficult decisions. At the end of the day, every Member of Congress will be faced with the question: “What did you do to preserve economic freedom for future generations?
(July 19, 2011 – Newark, NJ) – As hot and humid weather once again grips the region, PSE&G has taken steps to meet the expected high demand for electricity. The state’s largest utility is monitoring weather conditions and the impact on its delivery system. Although PSE&G expects to have no problem delivering the additional power, utility crews are at the ready to respond to service interruptions should they occur. The company has been advised by PJM, the regional grid operator, that power supplies are expected to be adequate to meet the increased demand. PJM has not issued any request to cut back on power.
Customers can take the following steps to stay comfortable and conserve in heat situations:
• Turn off everything you’re not using, including TVs and computers. • If health conditions permit, raise your air conditioner to 78 degrees. You can save 3 to 5 percent on air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat. • Also use fans to circulate air. Portable and ceiling fans use a tenth of the electricity of an air conditioner and can make 78 degrees feel cooler than it actually is. • Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to block summer light and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently. • Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms. • Check to ensure that no furniture or other obstacles are blocking ducts or fans, which will enable cooled air to circulate more frequently. • Cook and use other heat-generating appliances in the early morning and late evening hours whenever possible. To view demonstrations of how to save energy in your home, visit PSEG’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/psegvideo
For more energy saving tips and to conduct a free online home energy analysis, visit www.pseg.com/saveenergy. Click onto the “At Home with Energy Star” video podcast.
NJTPC has been reporting on this issue since January. You can see now two timely articles which are directly linked to tonight’s mortgage presentation. This is only the tip of the iceberg which may affect you and your home if you have not already have your satisfied Note and Deed. Remember even though these articles refer to people in forclosure, the fraud affects us all…even those who are paying their mortgages on time, all the time.
This AP article “;Mortgage ‘robo-signing’ goes on” was picked up by The Record today, it is in the financial section of the local paper (page L-8) https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jI_EF7qz7vNyWCmFzMtkz_Sd4Kzw?docId=43fce0b102784f29b024eec0696d3b4d
>Ed Sullivan : Paul Aronsohn is a breath of fresh air on the Council
Paul Aronsohn is a breath of fresh air on the Council. He views everything with an open and highly inquisitive mind. He wants people to back up their positions with solid data. He challenges old habits and ways of doing things. Forget party affiliation. In pure terms we desparately need more people like him. We need thinkers, particularly those who have the ability to transform ideas into action. In this regard Paul is among the best there is when it comes to taking a rough idea and transforming it into a successful finished project. One does not get to share a seat on Air Force One with the most poweerful man in the free world if he is a dull laggard.
Paul is at the pinnicle of his game. He is sharp, incitefull, incredibly intelligent and his writing and communication skills are far superior to anyone who has graced the Village Council before. By his own admission he is a Democrate, but his actions and voting record tilt far more to the right than the left. Paul is and remains a strong supporter of the Business Community.He understands the need for capital formation and that only well capitalized companies will be able to undertake and complete the kind of large scale projects that are needed that are needed to transform Ridgewood into a thriving semi-urban environment that will offer an array of desirable high wage jobs along with upscale living accommodations that will befit a younger,more upwardly mobile population. This type of transformation will be extremely difficult to achieve and it is my belief Paul is one of only a few people in Ridgewood who possesses the intellecticual capacity and sheer drive to make it happen. Stand with him and watch history being made.
Internet Scam 7 7 2011 As a service and to protect the Residents of the Village of Ridgewood, the Ridgewood Police will post helpful hints regarding safe online usage.
A scam that we see quite often time and time again is one that requests money from an unsuspecting party. This type of scam is called “phishing”. This means that the suspect sends hundreds, if not thousands, of emails in order to hopefully trick a party into sending money back. Here is a recently received e-mail that we have seen, however please remember that the email could be a variation of this, it does not have to be identical. Be very careful of emails that ask for personal information and for you to send money. Do not reply to these emails or call the phone number provided.
From: Western Union Money Transfer Sent: Thu, Jul 7, 2011 09:02:00 GMT+00:00 Subject: First Payment
We wish to inform you that We have sent $5000.00 USD already ,that was given to you by the European Union, as we are mandated to send you the total sum of $800,000,USD through Western Union.Re-send.. name, address,phone number For verification. so we can re-activate your first payment of 5,000 USD. To collect Sender’s first name: Fred last name: Bridge Mtcn: 9893379191
