>UN mulls internet regulation options By John Hilvert
WikiLeaks sparks push for tighter controls.
The United Nations is considering whether to set up an inter-governmental working group to harmonise global efforts by policy makers to regulate the internet.
Establishment of such a group has the backing of several countries, spearheaded by Brazil.
At a meeting in New York on Wednesday, representatives from Brazil called for an international body made up of Government representatives that would attempt to create global standards for policing the internet – specifically in reaction to challenges such as WikiLeaks.
The Brazilian delegate stressed, however, that this should not be seen as a call for a “takeover” of the internet.
India, South Africa, China and Saudi Arabia appeared to favour a new possible over-arching inter-government body.
Friday, December 17, 2010 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2010, 7:43 AM BY PAUL ARONSOHN THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce has come forward with a parking proposal that is both simple and sensible.
Specifically, the proposal suggests maintaining the current rate and time limits for all street meters (50 cents per hour for up to two hours), while changing all the village parking lots to a reduced rate with expanded time limits (25 cents per hour for up to 12 hours).
>HUMC asks state to consider new hospital in Westwood Thursday, December 16, 2010 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2010, 10:34 AM BY LINDY WASHBURN AND MARY JO LAYTON THE RECORD STAFF WRITERS
Hackensack University Medical Center opened a new front Thursday in its battle to reopen the old Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, asking the state health commissioner to start fresh with a new application to operate a hospital there.
Its previous efforts to extend and transfer Pascack’s original license have been mired in the courts for nearly a year, so Hackensack is hoping that a sympathetic Christie administration will greenlight the project.
The papers filed by the medical center in Trenton late Thursday afternoon will be reviewed by the state Department of Health and Human Services, said its spokeswoman, Donna Leusner. “We could ask for additional information, we could reject the petition or we could accept the petition and publish a notice of call,” she said.
A call would allow organizations to file applications to “open a new acute care hospital” in Westwood. They would have to prove that the region needs more hospital beds and that an additional hospital would not harm nearby hospitals.
The two other Bergen County hospitals that oppose the reopening — The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center — immediately vowed to fight this new effort.
>Obama tells lawmakers not passing tax deal could end presidency, Dem says By Jordan Fabian
In urging lawmakers to vote for his tax deal, President Obama is using one of his go-to lines from the healthcare debate, according to a Democratic lawmaker.
Obama is telling members of Congress that failure to pass the tax-cut legislation could result in the end of his presidency, Rep. Peter DeFazio (Ore.) said.
“The White House is putting on tremendous pressure, making phone calls, the president is making phone calls saying this is the end of his presidency if he doesn’t get this bad deal,” he told CNN’s Eliot Spitzer.
UPDATE 1-Approval of Internet traffic rules likely-analysts
By Jasmin Melvin
WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) – Contentious Internet traffic rules facing a vote next week are likely to be adopted without radically veering from a proposal unveiled earlier in the month, telecommunications policy analysts said on Wednesday.
The Federal Communications Commission will vote on Dec. 21 on whether to adopt regulations that ban the blocking of lawful traffic but allow Internet service providers to ration Web traffic on their networks.
The proposal laid out two weeks ago by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski was met with concern from the other members of the FCC, putting in question the likelihood of winning over a majority of the five-member FCC.
>Gov. Chris Christie has selected former New York City schools official Christopher Cerf to be his next commissioner of education
N.J. education chief is named
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has selected former New York City schools official Christopher Cerf to be his next commissioner of education, two sources close to the administration said. (Fleisher and Martinez, The Wall Street Journal)
>‘Back to Work NJ’ legislation includes bills to streamline state permitting process
Several bills designed to make New Jersey more business friendly were released from committees on Thursday, but some were criticized by a traditional ally of the Democratic-controlled Legislature. (Statehouse Bureau, Daily Record)
From left: Knights John Ginty, Bill Fahey, and Doug Hatler, Roger Campbell of the Wounded Warriors, and Doug Findlay.
Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Raise Funds for Wounded Warriors
Ridgewood-NJ-December 16, 2010: The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Council #1736 held a Thanksgiving Eve fundraiser that raised over $1,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors of the United States Armed Forces. The Wounded Warrior Project works to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.
Roger Campbell, who sits on the WWP board of directors and is also a member of the Ridgewood Knights Council, gave a touching speech about the reason behind his involvement with the WWP. “On September 11th, I left Ridgewood bound for the World Trade Center where I worked. Many who boarded the same trains that passed through Ridgewood that morning never returned, including my friend and brother Knight Dan McGinley. Today, in distant lands, our finest young men and women fight, are often wounded and sometimes die to prevent another 9/11 from happening. That’s why I’m on the board at the Wounded Warrior Project and that’s why I’m here tonight to say thanks to every one of you for your tremendous support of those our charity serves”, said Campbell.
Also present at the fundraiser was Frank Giordano, a 1983 graduate of West Point and the brother of WWP co-founder Al Giordano. “My brother Al helped start the Wounded Warrior Project as a way to give backpacks to injured vets returning to Walter Reed Hospital from overseas. In that backpack were little things like socks and books that made those who served and were terribly injured know that they were truly cared for and loved. Our mission has widened, and our charity has grown, but it’s events like this one and 85 others held around the U.S. in November alone, that will continue to enable us to serve those who have given so greatly in defensive of our nation and our freedom”, said Giordano.
As a special treat, renowned New York City musicians Bob and Norm played the best of music from the ‘60s through the ‘80s. “This was a great opportunity to show support for our Veterans while having a great time,” said event organizer Alexandra Antonacci, a Ridgewood High School Senior who developed the idea for the fundraiser and then worked with the Knights to help put the event together
Today marks the 236th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party
There are taxes, regulation, a massive corporate bailout, and a popular uprising called “the Tea Party”-but it’s not 2010. It’s 1773, and today marks the 236th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. The similarities are illuminating.
Early in 1773, Parliament pushed a bailout package for the British East India Company called the Tea Act. The bill extended a massive loan-well over what was already owed-and more government control over the company’s governance. It also allowed the East India Company the freedom to sell tea directly to the Americas.
While Parliament had removed some of the regulatory roadblocks for tea sales, it decided to keep the tea tax in place.
Being unrepresented in Parliament, the patriots opposed importing the tea and vowed resistance. The Boston patriot club, the North End Caucus, voted to “oppose the vending [of] any Tea, sent by the East India Company to any part of the Continent, with our lives and fortunes.”
In a well-orchestrated piece of protest and political theater. The “Indians” boarded the ships and dumped hundreds of crates of tea into the bay, destroying the entire cargo.
History never really repeats itself, but an observer would have to be thick to miss the parallels here. Governments that distort markets with taxes and regulation, perpetuate incompetence with bailouts, utilize cronyism and ignore constituents should not be surprised when those same constituents rock the boat and upset the crates.
Full Article: https://nation.foxnews.com/boston-tea-party/2010/12/16/happy-birthday-tea-party
The Bergen County Freeholder Board approved 36 appointments to county positions Wednesday night, bringing the number of county appointments to at least 58 during the last two months, despite Republican requests to cease such action until five newly elected county Republicans take office next year. (Gartland, The Record)
>Investor in talks with NJ Gov. Christie to privatize Meadowlands Racetrack
A harness racing enthusiast who restored one racetrack and built another track is eyeing the Meadowlands Racetrack, with a lease of the state-owned facility under consideration. (Jordan, Daily Record)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority will seek proposals from private companies to take over toll collection duties on the turnpike and Garden State Parkway after the new year, agency officials confirmed Wednesday. (Rouse, The Record)
