Steve Jobs didn’t let his kids use iPads Posted on Monday, September 15 at 5:03am | By Amy Graff
Steve Jobs was the father of two teenage girls and a son when he passed away in 2011. These kids grew up with a visionary father who co-founded one of the best-known tech companies. Jobs led the world into the digital age with gadgets that transformed the way we listen to music, watch movies, communicate, live our lives.
You would imagine that his children’s rooms would have been filled with iPods, iPhones and iPads.
That’s not the case.In an article in the Sunday New York Times, reporter Nick Bilton says he once asked Jobs “So, your kids must love the iPad?”
Jobs response: “They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.”
The Times article examines the growing trend among the California Silicon Valley tech set to limit children’s technology use. Many of the people behind the social media platforms, gadgets and games that are consuming our kids’ time and minds aren’t actually allowing their own children to waste an entire Saturday afternoon playing Minecraft on the iPad.
A quote in The Times from Chris Anderson, father of five and chief executive of 3D Robotics, pretty much defines why Anderson and his colleagues are limiting technology at home. “My kids accuse me and my wife of being fascists and overly concerned about tech, and they say that none of their friends have the same rules,” says Anderson, formerly the editor of Wired. “That’s because we have seen the dangers of technology firsthand. I’ve seen it in myself, I don’t want to see that happen to my kids.”
Some of these Silicon Valley engineers and execs are even going to the extreme of sending their kids to computer-free schools. A Times story from 2011 reported that engineers and execs from Apple, eBay, Google, Hewlett-Packard and Yahoo are sending their kids to a Waldorf elementary school in Los Altos, Calif., where you won’t find a single computer or screen of any sort. Also, kids are discouraged from watching television or logging on at home.
Common Core State Standards a Threat to Personal Liberty — Thomas More Law Center Develops Opt-Out Form for Parents
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August 27, 2014
Amidst growing concerns from parents and teachers surrounding the Common Core State Standards and the Federal government’s control of classroom curriculum, the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) has prepared a Student Privacy Protection Request form for use by parents who wish to protect their children by opting-out of Common Core aligned curricula, data mining and the release of information concerning their children’s personal beliefs.
The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, MI, designed the comprehensive opt-out form for parents concerned about Common Core and who want to protect their children’s privacy from educational data mining. The form allows parents to choose which Common Core State Standards and data driven practices they do not want their children to be a part of, including standardized testing.
The form allows parents to opt-out of sharing their child’s information with the federal government, as well as outside agencies and private contractors. Information which parents can opt-out of sharing ranges from test scores and religious and political beliefs, to biographic, biometric, and psychometric data, such as fingerprints, DNA and information related to children’s personality and aptitude.
Richard Thompson, TMLC President and Chief Counsel, commented, “The opt-out form is based on the constitutionally recognized fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children and on federal statutes which were designed to protect student privacy. Our Founding Fathers recognized the dangers to our freedoms posed by centralized control over public education. However, today, all but a handful of state governments, enticed by millions of dollars in federal grants, are voluntarily inviting the federal government to take control of our public schools, imposing untested educational standards and obtaining personal information on children and their parents which would make any totalitarian government blush with envy. We must ever keep in mind, ‘The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will become the philosophy of the government in the next.’ Clearly, Common Core is a threat to individual privacy and liberty, and to our Constitutional Republic.”
Alibaba’s IPO to end US dominance in technology sector: expert
English.news.cn 2014-09-19 04:35:34
LONDON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) — Alibaba’s IPO could well be the end of U.S. dominance in the world technology sector, a professor from a Britain’s business school told Xinhua on Thursday.
“Alibaba’s annual growth rate of more than 30 percent shows that the gap between the Chinese companies, Alibaba and Tencent, and U.S. companies is getting ever closer,” said Qing Wang, professor from Warwick Business School, one of the most prestigious and highly selective business schools in the world.
“The ability to understand customers intimately and continuously innovate should enable them to expand overseas with US dominance in the world technology sector gradually being broken,” said professor Wang.
The strong performance and fast rise of the Chinese technology companies in the world was helped by an enormous and fast growing domestic market, she said. The competition in that domestic market among the Chinese companies, as well as with multinational corporations that have entered it, was extremely fierce and successful private companies like Alibaba had to be highly entrepreneurial and market-oriented, she added.
Professor Wang didn’t see major risks for Alibaba after IPO, as this was not the first Chinese company who has done this and the earlier ones such as Tencent are doing well after their IPO.
But she warned that what Alibaba might need to watch out for is the short term orientation of the stock market, the expectation and pressure to deliver quick results, which may clash with his business philosophy.
Ridgewood in talks to allow parking at closed car dealership
SEPTEMBER 13, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2014, 1:21 AM BY CHRIS HARRIS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Village officials announced a potential partnership with the owner of a former car dealership to provide more than 100 new parking spaces downtown — an attempt to alleviate the parking problem in town.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld cautioned that no deal had been signed, but said at a recent meeting she was excited about the potential arrangement, which Ridgewood officials continue to negotiate.
As proposed, the deal would see the dismantling of the building on the Ken Smith Motors site on Franklin Avenue. Under the plan, the village would handle selling parking passes for the lot to employees working in the Central Business District.
That would leave more parking for visitors to downtown Ridgewood.
In addition, Sonenfeld told the council she has been exploring ways for the village to fund its own parking garage.
An $8 million loan, she said, would cost taxpayers $600,000 annually for $20 years.
Parking solutions sought as former bank building in Ridgewood gets new tenant
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014, 4:18 PM BY LAURA HERZOG STAFF WRITER THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
As the Village Council continues fishing for a parking garage, a big catch – FISH – has entered the discussion on Ridgewood’s parking needs.
FISH, a high-end eatery from Asbury Park, is opening a second location in Ridgewood’s long-empty Bank of America building, and bringing with it as many as 225 new diners.
“They’d like to open somewhere between December and February,” said the building’s landlord John Saraceno, who said he was contacted by FISH six months ago. “They’re a great use for the village.”
The new restaurant, expected to attract many new diners, and cars, is also adding even more urgency to the village’s ongoing search for better parking options in the Central Business District (CBD), a search being done partly with awareness that more popular chains and anchor stores could help revitalize Ridgewood’s downtown but necessitate more parking options.
But luckily, FISH’s plan to valet park its cars will provide some relief.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014, 1:21 AM BY CHRIS HARRIS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD Print
RIDGEWOOD — The village will be getting some much-needed parking along North Walnut Street under the terms outlined in a 42-page bid soliciting potential developers for the downtown’s redevelopment zone.
A new Request for Proposal and Qualifications, or RFP, has been issued by Ridgewood officials and seeks the redevelopment of 10 properties the heart of the Central Business District.
The 2.07 acres — some of it municipally owned — was designated a “redevelopment zone” by officials in 2007, which permits mostly retail and restaurant uses.
The redevelopment zone — currently the site of an ice cream shop, an 89-space parking lot, a mechanic’s shop, restaurants and retail stores — further allows for residential developments and is already being considered by at least one developer for a future assisted-living facility for seniors.
The RFP states that all proposals and plans from interested developers must be submitted by December and must include some manner of parking garage.
While an issue for decades, the village’s lack of parking has become an increasing concern for businesses and residents.
When more than 50% of New Jersey state aid is dedicated to 5% of our schools, Save Jerseyans, thanks largely to the New Jersey Supreme Court’s interference, then no one should be surprised when New Jersey’s property taxes are the highest in the nation. It’s simple math… something that they’re not doing a particularly good job of teaching in those 5%-districts! Or many of the rest of them, too, if we’re being honest.
School funding is one of our favorite topics at Save Jersey; if you’re a visual learner, here’s a particularly excellent explanatory video dropped by the Assembly GOP on Tuesday. It’s hard to ignore the problem when the numbers are staring right back at you…
– See more at: https://savejersey.com/2014/09/property-tax-bill-new-jersey-school-funding-formula/#sthash.vTHo4wMh.dpuf
Join the 9/11 Day Observance today. Visit https://911day.org/ and share your message or good deed tribute. Or share your message on Twitter, #911day.
Our mission is to honor the victims and survivors of 9/11 and those that rose to service in response to the attacks by encouraging all Americans and others throughout the world to pledge to voluntarily perform at least one good deed, or another service activity on 9/11 each year.
9/11 Day is the grassroots movement to observe September 11 every year as a day of charitable service and doing good deeds, and to inspire individuals to continue to help others in need whenever they can. Today more than 35 million Americans and others participate annually by taking time out on 9/11 to help others in need, in their own way! We created this observance soon after 9/11 to provide a positive way to forever remember and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, honor those that rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind people of the importance of working more closely together to improve our world. In 2009 the U.S. Congress and President Obama joined together to officially establish 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under bi-partisan federal law.
Participating in 9/11 Day is easy. Simply dedicate time each September 11 to helping others in any fashion that you choose, like making a donation, performing a good deed, helping a friend, relative or neighbor, or volunteering your time. All we ask is that you remember by doing something positive that helps others. Be sure to share your plans or message on Twitter, using #911day, on Facebook, or by visiting our website, https://911day.org/
A few suggestions on how to help from the Ridgewood News :
Give blood. Donate books to a library or volunteer to read to children. Donate pet food to an animal rescue or shelter or volunteer to foster an animal. Donate food to a food pantry. Give clothes to a homeless shelter.
Companies, groups, municipalities and schools can also band together for special projects such as sponsoring a collection, volunteering time to help nonprofits in the area or just sprucing up public places.
For example, the Rotary Club of Ridgewood A.M. is collecting new and used shoes for donation to the Soles4Souls charity. The non-profit group monetizes used shoes and clothing to create sustainable jobs and fund direct relief efforts, including distribution of new shoes and clothing.
Drop off locations for the shoe drive include all Ridgewood public schools and the Education Center, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Chestnut Deli, Columbia Bank, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Morgan Stanley, Old Paramus Reformed Church, Ponds Reformed Church, Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church, Ridgewood Community Church, St. Elizabeth’s Church, Temple Emmanuel, Ulrich, the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, Upper Ridgewood Community Church, Village Hall, West Side Presbyterian Church.
For additional information about the shoe drive, contact Betty Wiest at 201-652-0858.
$514,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1433062
405 N Monroe St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Lindsey Barclay, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
24
$529,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1425382
347 Franklin Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Karen Boyle, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
24
$539,900 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1432911
458 Sheffield Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, C/C
Christine Gubb, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
22
$579,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1425480
478 Hunter Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, C/C
Elizabeth Novak, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
24
$625,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1423422
526 Farview St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath, COL
Alina Nolan, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
25
$650,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1430875
495 E Saddle River Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Michael Shetler, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.SyywpI7B.388FZhrW.dpuf
$679,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1433549
608 Morningside Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Julie Cleary, Broker
RE/MAX Properties-Saddle River
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
22
$749,600 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1432249
558 Lynn St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, S/L
Angele Ekert, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
25
$950,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1433539
350 Graydon Ter, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Joyce Albert, Sales Associate
Terrie O’Connor Realtors/Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
18
$989,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1433245
713 Witthill Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, COL
Eileen Krenn, Sales Associate
Vyacheslav Zborovsky, Broker Owner
RE/MAX Elite Associates
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
24
$1,095,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1428644
21 Theyken Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, COL
Joseph M. Hurley, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/14
25
$1,150,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1433109
205 Manor Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Christine Aderhold, Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker, Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
24
$1,195,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1432770
627 Grove St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
7 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, COL
Patricia Zengel, Sales Associate
RE/MAX Hometowne Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
25
$1,259,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1431072
44 Fairmount Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Jennifer M. Parsekian, Broker
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
25
$1,299,999 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1424678
316 S Irving St, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, COL
Angele Ekert, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
24
$1,749,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1428956
233 Highland Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath,
2 Half Bath, COL
Hedy N. Weiss, Sales Associate
Coldwell Banker, Wyckoff/Franklin Lakes
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.SyywpI7B.388FZhrW.dpuf
$2,595,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1411204
310 Heights Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
5 Bedroom, 5 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Victoria Wilkinson, Sales Associate
Solutions Realty, LLC
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
25
Open Houses for Sun 9/14
$959,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1433600
721 Waverly Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, COL
Christine Gubb, Sales Associate
Keller Williams Village Square Realty
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/14
24
$1,095,000 in Ridgewood
MLS # 1428644
21 Theyken Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
6 Bedroom, 4 Full Bath, COL
Joseph M. Hurley, Sales Associate
Weichert Realtors Ridgewood
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/7
Open House: 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Sun. 9/14
– See more at: https://www.njmls.com/NJ/BERGEN/RIDGEWOOD-open-houses#sthash.SyywpI7B.388FZhrW.dpuf
Fitch downgrades NJ’s credit rating once again, citing pension shortfalls
SEPTEMBER 5, 2014, 5:12 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014, 12:16 AM BY JOHN REITMEYER STATE HO– USE BUREAU THE RECORD
New Jersey’s credit rating has been cut in Wall Street’s first official reaction to the move by Governor Christie to scale back legally mandated payments to New Jersey’s pension fund, a move he made to balance the state budget.
Fitch Ratings announced Friday afternoon that it lowered the state’s credit rating one step to A, citing a “repudiation” of the pledged pension payments.
The downgrade announcement also cited “the absence of long-term, fiscally sustainable solutions” to close recent budget gaps, “overly optimistic revenue forecasts” and a state economy that “continues to lag that of the nation.”
The ratings action comes as public employee unions are challenging the pension payment reductions — which total $2.4 billion over two fiscal years — in state Superior Court. It also puts New Jersey’s credit rating in a tie with California’s, and above only Illinois among U.S. states.
The downgrade is the second this year from Fitch, which had already lowered the credit rating to A+ after the Christie administration announced in April that tax collections had fallen $807 million short of projections.
Two other major ratings agencies, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s, also lowered New Jersey’s credit rating around the same time.
The credit rating is an important factor in determining how cheap and easy it is to borrow money for capital projects such as schools and bridges that cannot be funded in one budget year.
The latest downgrade is also a blow for Christie, a Republican who has tried to make the case that his fiscal policies and reforms have rescued the state from years of mismanagement under Democratic leadership. And though the state’s unemployment rate has improved in recent months, the loss of roughly 5,000 jobs from the closure of two Atlantic City casinos earlier this week signals that more bad economic news could be coming.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/fitch-downgrades-nj-s-credit-rating-once-again-citing-pension-shortfalls-1.1082031#sthash.9mSK3Y9w.dpuf
1.4 million New Jersey students return to school this year
SEPTEMBER 3, 2014, 12:24 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014, 7:58 PM BY HANNAN ADELY STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
HACKENSACK — Around 1.4 million New Jersey students returned to school this week in what is expected to be a year of transition for both students and staff.
Schools continue to apply academic standards in the classroom that the state adopted in 2010 and to prepare for new tests based on those standards. They are also using new methods to evaluate teachers.
Photos: First day of school in Bergen, Passaic counties
While schools braced for changes by training teachers, upgrading technology and writing lesson plans, students were making their own choices for the first day: what to wear to school and pack in their bags.
Priyansh Saha, a third grader at the Nellie K. Parker School in Hackensack, chose his clothes and school supplies on his own and had everything ready for school days ago, said his mother, Priyanka Saha.
“We’re very excited,” Priyanka Saha said. “We hope he will learn a lot through the year.”
Saha said she expected this year to be more challenging for her son. “If he works hard he will get better in everything, whatever challenges he faces,” she said.
Maribel Breton said she also expected her son, Adonis, will have to study more in third grade. “He has to learn to read and write perfectly,” she said.
Apple offers full suite of Common Core apps sure to indoctrinate
September 2, 2014
LOS ANGELES — Expanding from its previous partnership with Pearson Education to provide fact and quality deficient curriculum resources, Apple now offers even more — a full range of Common Core aligned curriculum and assessment tools for iPad.
A recent document published by Apple outlining several “amazing curriculum products for iPad” reveals that Apple is not concerned with providing quality education material to America’s students and teachers, but rather with competing for a share of the pot of gold at the end of the nationally leveraged Common Core rainbow.
Although Apple has offered iBook textbooks from Pearson, McGraw Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and DK Publishing since 2012, it recently upgraded its current offerings and added new products specifically aligned with Common Core, some of which are unique to iPad.
Aiming to be a one-stop-shop for all things Common Core, the iPad suite offers core curriculum content in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies, as well as assessments, learning systems, and teacher tools.
In addition to Pearson Education, who employs progressive indoctrinators to lead its Common Core Initiative, Apple’s menu of core curriculum apps includes lessons from other equally skewed publishers/providers like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw Hill, Discovery Education, and The Choices Program.
By: Diane Weaver | March, 2013 | 11,282 views | No Comments | Posted in: Common Core State Standards, Technology in the Classroom
Digital literacy is integral component to the Common Core Standards. The skill of critically navigating, consuming, and producing digital text and media has increasingly significant influence on a student’s success as an adult. In fact, it is even mentioned in the Standard’s portrait of students who are college and career ready, which states,
“Students employ technology thoughtfully to enhance their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language use. They tailor their searches online to acquire useful information efficiently, and they integrate what they learn using technology with what they learn offline. They are familiar with the strengths and limitations of various technological tools and mediums and can select and use those best suited to their communication goals.”
Inexpensive Device Keeps Students Safe In Classroom
POSTED 7:48 AM, AUGUST 29, 2014, BY ANGELICA SPANOS
A Connecticut made safety device could keep students safe in their classrooms. It was built here and tested in a local elementary school and now the creator wants it in schools across the state.
The device is called the Life Bolt. It is a simple metal device, that requires no training, and is inexpensive. It has been tested by engineers and teachers and is what many are backing as a creative and safe solution to secure classroom.
It works by drilling two receivers to a door; one on the jam and one on the door itself. A metal ‘U’ shaped bar then slides down into them. “It doesn’t change the environment,” said created Bill Letson of Armof Solutions. “It’s non obtrusive, it doesn’t show like it’s a lock device, it’s real simple to use teachers don’t have to read a manual they don’t have to know they have to push a button.”
Letson created the device and has gone through many phases of the Life Bolt. Now, he said this device is ready for classrooms during a code red active threat situation. The metal bar is light weight, strong, and it can hold closed against hundreds of pounds of pull pressure.
It has been tested by first responders including fire officials on a state and local level as well as teachers and school administrators. “Parents are sending children here, they are putting their lives in our hands while they’re at school, and we will do anything in our power to make sure we keep them as safe as possible,” said Alycia Trakas, a principal at a Connecticut elementary school.
