HONG KONG (AFP) – – Hong Kong remained the world’s freest place to do business for the 17th year in a row in an annual US league table published Wednesday.
The United States lost ground and mainland China came 135th in the table compiled by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington-based think tank, and The Wall Street Journal.
Hong Kong, a former British colony which was returned to China in 1997, edged out regional rival Singapore to claim top spot in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom.
After Hong Kong and Singapore, Australia and New Zealand took third and fourth spots respectively
National School Choice Week (NSCW) — January 23-29
This is going to be huge. Events all over the country!
Please support or consider sponsoring a National School Choice Week (NSCW) event in your area. You can find complete information at the National School Choice Week website. Also don’t forget to “Like” the NSCW Facebook page.
Last week, it looked like the Christie administration had pulled a fast one on the Democrats by introducing a plan to bail out the Transportation Trust Fund with revenues that would have gone to the canceled ARC tunnel project.
This week: Not so fast.
That’s what John Wisniewski is saying. And he’s getting backing from Steve Lonegan. (Mulshine, The Star-Ledger)
>Governor thrusts New Jersey to fore of an education fight
Gov. Chris Christie’s tough-on-schools approach in a state that has zealously protected its public schools — and its teachers — has already put him at loggerheads with legislative leaders, unions and some parents in New Jersey. (Hu, The New York Times)
New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto shocked the state’s political and legal worlds Wednesday – by voting on a case.
Such an action would hardly be surprising coming from any other justice. But only last month Rivera-Soto had pledged to abstain from all cases in protest over the presence of a temporary justice on the court. (Megerian, The Star-Ledger)
>Star school reformer’s quick NJ stop leaves people talking
Was Michelle Rhee’s high-profile visit to Trenton this week a powerful statement that puts New Jersey in the national forefront of school change? Or was it a political prop for the governor to distract his critics, as one Democratic leader claimed? (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Thanks to tenure, many believe that teachers’ jobs are basically guaranteed, no matter how students do.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wants to change that: He is seeking to end tenure and on Wednesday said he would support switching to a system that gives individual teachers five-year contracts, which districts could renew based on merit. He said he believes that if the worst 5% of teachers were churned, there would be a “quantum effect” on performance. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
>Daily Permit Parking offered by Clearview Cinemas
Ridgewood’s Warner Clearview Cinema is offering: Daily Permit Parking at 199 Dayton Street at $75 per month. For more information contact: Keira Gomez – 908-918-2017 [email protected]
>Sabatino Sirica, Renowned Neapolitan Pastry Master,to Share Baking Techniques at A Mano
For the First Time in the US, the Pastry Chef will Display his Expert Skills at Demonstrations and Baking Classes January 13-15th
Ridgewood New Jersey’s authentic Neapolitan trattoria A Mano, will host celebrated Italian pastry master Sabatino Sirica, for an intimate viewing of the art of pastry. The esteemed maestro will teach the fundamentals of traditional Italian pastry, at demonstrations and baking classes on January 13-15, 2011 by reservation only.With more than a half century of experience with the craftsmanship of pastry, Mr. Sirica will exhibit his expert techniques and share baking secrets at the limited engagements. At the baking classes, participants will enjoy a rare opportunity to work hands-on with the artisan, while guests at the demonstrations will take an up-close look at perfecting pastry.
During his appearances at A Mano, the celebrated baker will showcase signature Neapolitan desserts such as sfogliatelle – a classic Italian ricotta filled pastry, rum baba – a delicious cake flavored with rum, pasteria – a traditional Neapolitan specialty for the Easter season, and more.
Born in 1941 in Sarno, Italy, founder and owner of the renowned pastry shop, Pasticciera Sirica in Naples, Italy, Mr. Sirica has been a member of the Association of Neapolitan bakers for 15 years,holding titles as Secretary and Treasurer. He has graced the major Italian television network, RAI TV, with many appearances, and is well known for his prestigious clients and collaborations, as well as his generous philanthropy.
Telephone: 201.493.2000
Website: www.amanopizza.com
Reservations Required: Limited engagement. Please call the manager for reservations
Sabatino Sirica, renowned Neapolitan pastry master,an intimate, informative baking classes ($20 per person) and complimentary demonstrations led by celebrated Neapolitan pastry chef and Italian TV star, Sabatino Sirica, hosted at A Mano, 24 Franklin Ave., Ridgewood, NJ
Baking Classes Thursday, January 13th & Friday, January 14th 10:00–11:30 AM
Pastry Demonstrations Thursday, January 13th 6:00–7:00 PM Saturday, January 15th 4:00–5:00 PM
As the economy revs back to life, with signs of hiring on the horizon, the housing market is being left behind like Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone.”
In the past few years, we’ve all been careful to choose our words carefully, not calling it a recession until it fit the technical definition and avoiding any inappropriate use of the “D” word — Depression.
Things were bad but the broader economy never reached Depression territory. The housing market, on the other hand, just crossed that threshold.
Home values have fallen 26 percent since their peak in June 2006, worse than the 25.9-percent decline seen during the Depression years between 1928 and 1933, Zillow reported.
November marked the 53rd consecutive month (4 ½ years) that home values have fallen.
>Arizona shooting: Pima County Sheriff’s Department, college won’t release data on suspect
Sheriff’s Department and community-college officials in Pima County are refusing to release a wide range of public documents about the man charged in Saturday’s shooting rampage that left six dead and more than a dozen wounded.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Pima Community College have declined to release documents that could shed light on run-ins they had with 22-year-old Jared Loughner in the months prior to the shooting.
The Arizona Public Records Law requires that records be “open to inspection by any person at all times” unless officials can prove releasing the information would violate rights of privacy or confidentiality or otherwise harm the best interests of the state.
The Arizona Republic requested that records, including incident reports on campus and calls for dispatch of deputies to Loughner’s home, be released under the law. Such reports are often released as a matter of course in criminal cases.
College officials have not indicated when or if they will release the information, saying they want prior approval from the FBI and are concerned about violating federal laws protecting the privacy of student information. The Republic did not request student academic records.
Pima Community College officials confirmed Saturday that they suspended Loughner after a series of outbursts in classrooms and the library, five of which involved campus police
>Officers stopped suspect Jared Lougher on day of Ariz. shooting
Officers stopped suspect on day of Ariz. shooting
TUCSON, Ariz. – A wildlife officer pulled over the suspect in the assassination attempt against an Arizona congresswoman less than three hours before the deadly attack, authorities said Wednesday as they pieced together more details of a frenzied morning.
Jared Lougher ran a red light but was let off with a warning at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the Arizona Game and Fish Department said. The officer took Loughner’s driver’s license and vehicle registration information but found no outstanding warrants on Loughner or his vehicle.
Wildlife officers don’t usually make traffic stops unless public safety is at risk, such as running a red light, the department said in a news release, which didn’t say where the stop took place.
It’s the latest evidence of Loughner’s busy morning before police say he shot and killed six and wounded more than a dozen at a Tucson grocery store.
>NJ TRANSIT is operating a regular weekday schedule on all rail lines
Winter Storm Travel Advisory for January 12, 2011 Updated 6:00 a.m. January 12, 2011
All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before traveling for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip.
Rail: NJ TRANSIT is operating a regular weekday schedule on all rail lines.
Due to weather conditions, trains may be subject to slower boarding and slightly longer dwell times at stations that could result in scattered minor delays (10-15 minutes) across the system. Please allow additional travel time as a result.
Individual train delays and cancelations are possible due to weather. Any train delayed or cancelled will be posted on the Travel Alerts page and an alert will be sent to customers via My Transit. On Wednesday, the center doors on single-level rail cars will not be used, as part of an effort to improve reliability. Customers should use the doors located at the ends of each rail car to board the train. Because center doors are particularly susceptible to snow and ice issues, locking out the center doors improves reliability.
Bus: Regular weekday schedule in effect. Bus customers may experience delays or minor detours on certain routes due to local road conditions. Click here to view bus delays and service changes for your route.
>New Jersey Pension Reform: Gov. Christie: Pension system antiquated, unsustainable
Gov. Christie: Pension system antiquated, unsustainable
Gov. Chris Christie in his State of the State speech Tuesday called the public employee pension system “antiquated and unsustainable,” but Democratic lawmakers said an overhaul won’t do any good unless the Republican governor restarts funding to the program. (Jordan, Daily Record)
