THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG. - Page 137 of 4236 - The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.

Posted on February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 by James — Leave a comment

Forget the Face: Why “Physical AI” Is the Real Secret Behind the Industrial Humanoid Boom

The future of the shop floor isn’t about robots that look like us. It’s about machines that can finally think like us in the context of physical space—adapting, learning

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Las Vegas NV, CES 2026 made one thing crystal clear: the robots are no longer just coming; they are punching into work. From Tesla’s Optimus beginning its apprenticeship at the Austin Gigafactory to BMW’s Figure 02 fleet handling 90,000 parts on the X3 line, humanoid machines are officially on the payroll.

Continue reading Forget the Face: Why “Physical AI” Is the Real Secret Behind the Industrial Humanoid Boom

Posted on February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 by James — Leave a comment

Missing: FBI Issues $50,000 Reward as Ransom Notes Surface in Nancy Guthrie Abduction

The FBI has officially announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the arrest of those involved

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Pima County , The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has intensified following a chilling update from federal and local authorities. During a high-stakes press conference on Thursday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI confirmed they are treating the disappearance as a suspected abduction.

Continue reading Missing: FBI Issues $50,000 Reward as Ransom Notes Surface in Nancy Guthrie Abduction

Posted on February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 by James — Leave a comment

Online Entertainment Habits in Local Communities

Local communities across the United States are experiencing a quiet but significant shift in how people consume entertainment. Traditional pastimes such as local cinemas, cable television, and in-person social activities are increasingly being complemented by digital alternatives. From streaming platforms and mobile gaming to interactive social apps, entertainment has become more personalised, on-demand, and accessible from home.

Continue reading Online Entertainment Habits in Local Communities

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — 2 Comments

One Last Kiss? Westwood’s 250-Year-Old “Kissing Tree” to Be Honored in Emotional Valentine’s Tribute

480157011 1005612141600764 2563418364683325044 n

A Terminal Diagnosis for Westwood’s “Kissing Tree”: Can This Civil War-Era Icon Be Saved?

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, In the heart of downtown Westwood, a legendary resident is fighting for its life. The iconic Kissing Tree—a towering copper beech that has stood as a silent witness to centuries of romance—has received a terminal diagnosis.

Continue reading One Last Kiss? Westwood’s 250-Year-Old “Kissing Tree” to Be Honored in Emotional Valentine’s Tribute

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — 5 Comments

Reading with the Mayor: Ridgewood Officials Celebrate World Read Aloud Day at Travell School

627108780 1322718726555305 6321979597642638859 n

Village of Ridgewood Celebrates the 17th annual World Read Aloud Day

photos courtesy of the Village of ridgewood

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Who had more fun on World Read Aloud Day—the Village leaders or the students? It was a close call at Travell Elementary School this week as Ridgewood’s top officials traded the boardroom for the classroom to share the magic of literacy.

Continue reading Reading with the Mayor: Ridgewood Officials Celebrate World Read Aloud Day at Travell School

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — 22 Comments

The Schedler Saga: Why Ridgewood is Paying $2.6M to Remove a Safety Barrier

627765856 1301016768738124 6289666787073472792 n

Taxpayers Facing a $1.1 million funding gap

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the ongoing battle over the Zabriskie-Schedler property in Ridgewood, NJ, has reached a costly new chapter. Despite a previous budget allocation of $1.5 million for soil remediation, the latest bids for work at the site have come in significantly higher—leaving taxpayers to wonder how the Village will bridge a $1.1 million funding gap.

Continue reading The Schedler Saga: Why Ridgewood is Paying $2.6M to Remove a Safety Barrier

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — 6 Comments

NYC Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes Skyrocket 182% During Mayor Mamdani’s First Month

You Got What You Voted For

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York NY, New York City is grappling with a disturbing paradox. While the NYPD celebrates its “safest January on record” for gun violence, the city’s Jewish community is facing a historic surge in targeted violence.

According to new data released by the NYPD, antisemitic hate crimes surged 182% in January 2026—the very first month of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration.

Continue reading NYC Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes Skyrocket 182% During Mayor Mamdani’s First Month

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — Leave a comment

Elon Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Gamble: Why SpaceX Just Swallowed xAI

The Vision: “Orbital Data Centers” are the New Frontier

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Brownsville Tx, Elon Musk is moving the chess pieces of his empire again, and this time, the stakes are astronomical. In a move that has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley and Wall Street, SpaceX has officially acquired xAI in a historic deal valuing the AI startup at $250 billion.

Continue reading Elon Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Gamble: Why SpaceX Just Swallowed xAI

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — Leave a comment

The $100,000 Dinner: Gov. Mikie Sherrill Faces Backlash Over “Dark Money” Inaugural Loophole

Sherrill team utilized a well-known but controversial loophole to bypass these ethics requirements

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

East Rutherford NJ, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill campaigned on a promise to “get dark money out of politics,” but her road to the statehouse is being paved with six-figure checks and secret donor lists.

While the public celebrates a new administration, a select group of business executives, lobbyists, and union leaders recently enjoyed exclusive access to the Governor at a ritzy pre-inaugural dinner—where the entry fee started at a staggering $100,000.

Continue reading The $100,000 Dinner: Gov. Mikie Sherrill Faces Backlash Over “Dark Money” Inaugural Loophole

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — 3 Comments

Trump Admin Eyes Jordan Fox for Top N.J. Prosecutor: Can She End the Legal Logjam?

Jordan S. Fox, a 30-year-old Bergen County native and rising star within the Justice Department, has emerged as the Trump Administration’s top pick to lead federal prosecutions in the Garden State

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, the battle for leadership at the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office has taken a sharp new turn. Jordan S. Fox, a 30-year-old Bergen County native and rising star within the Justice Department, has emerged as the Trump Administration’s top pick to lead federal prosecutions in the Garden State.

Continue reading Trump Admin Eyes Jordan Fox for Top N.J. Prosecutor: Can She End the Legal Logjam?

Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 by James — 6 Comments

N.J. Towns Face “Judgment Day” as “Affordable Housing” Mandate Fight Hits U.S. Supreme Court

The coalition, representing about 36 towns, argues that the state’s methodology for calculating housing “need” is arbitrary and ignores local infrastructure limits

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, The high-stakes battle over New Jersey’s suburban landscape has reached its ultimate destination. A coalition of dozens of New Jersey municipalities—facing a ticking clock and a March 15, 2026 deadline—has officially appealed to the United States Supreme Court in a desperate attempt to halt the state’s aggressive new affordable housing mandates.

Continue reading N.J. Towns Face “Judgment Day” as “Affordable Housing” Mandate Fight Hits U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 by James — 3 Comments

“The American People Are Being Lied To”: Palantir CTO’s Bold Vision for the AI Worker

“The Printing Press of Our Age”: Why Palantir’s CTO Says AI is the American Worker’s Greatest Asset

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Silicon Valley CA, Is AI a job-killer or the ultimate promotion? According to Shyam Sankar, Chief Technology Officer at Palantir, the current narrative surrounding Artificial Intelligence is dangerously wrong.

Continue reading “The American People Are Being Lied To”: Palantir CTO’s Bold Vision for the AI Worker

Posted on February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 by James — Leave a comment

The AI Power Paradox: How Stevens Students are Solving the $282 Billion Data Center Dilemma

The $282 Billion AI Problem: How Stevens Students are Mapping the Future of Data Centers

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hoboken NJ, As tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft pour an estimated $282 billion into the physical infrastructure of artificial intelligence, a massive problem is looming: where do we put it all?

Continue reading The AI Power Paradox: How Stevens Students are Solving the $282 Billion Data Center Dilemma

Posted on February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 by James — 2 Comments

Simon Property Group 2026 Outlook: The Shops at Riverside & Retail Risks

As Simon Property Group faces 2026 tariff impacts and retail bankruptcies, what happens to The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack? Explore the future of luxury malls

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, In the heart of Hackensack, The Shops at Riverside stands as a beacon of high-end retail. Managed by Simon Property Group (SPG), this two-level luxury destination—famed for its “Restaurant Row,” Bloomingdale’s, and AMC Dine-In Theatre—has long been the crown jewel of Bergen County shopping.

Continue reading Simon Property Group 2026 Outlook: The Shops at Riverside & Retail Risks

Posted on February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 by James — 11 Comments

You Get What You Voted For: Ridgewood Council Pushes New Parking Garage

Is Ridgewood on the verge of a parking revolution or a taxpayer nightmare?

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on Tuesday, February 3rd, Village Hall transformed into a battleground of ideas as the community gathered for the Community Forum on Downtown Parking. While the official invite promised a “comprehensive look” at the Central Business District (CBD), many residents are smelling a rat—specifically one involving rising debt and potential conflicts of interest.

Continue reading You Get What You Voted For: Ridgewood Council Pushes New Parking Garage

The future of the shop floor isn’t about robots that look like us. It’s about machines that can finally think like us in the context of physical space—adapting, learning

The FBI has officially announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the arrest of those involved

Village of Ridgewood Celebrates the 17th annual World Read Aloud Day

Taxpayers Facing a $1.1 million funding gap

You Got What You Voted For

The Vision: “Orbital Data Centers” are the New Frontier

Sherrill team utilized a well-known but controversial loophole to bypass these ethics requirements

Jordan S. Fox, a 30-year-old Bergen County native and rising star within the Justice Department, has emerged as the Trump Administration’s top pick to lead federal prosecutions in the Garden State

The coalition, representing about 36 towns, argues that the state’s methodology for calculating housing “need” is arbitrary and ignores local infrastructure limits

“The Printing Press of Our Age”: Why Palantir’s CTO Says AI is the American Worker’s Greatest Asset

The $282 Billion AI Problem: How Stevens Students are Mapping the Future of Data Centers

As Simon Property Group faces 2026 tariff impacts and retail bankruptcies, what happens to The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack? Explore the future of luxury malls

Is Ridgewood on the verge of a parking revolution or a taxpayer nightmare?

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)