Euro zone agrees to lend Spain up to 100 billion euros
By Jan Strupczewski and Julien Toyer
BRUSSELS/MADRID | Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:38pm EDT
(Reuters) – Euro zone finance ministers agreed on Saturday to lend Spain up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) to shore up its teetering banks and Madrid said it would specify precisely how much it needs once independent audits report in just over a week.
After a 2 1/2-hour conference call of the 17 finance ministers, which several sources described as heated, the Eurogroup and Madrid said the amount of the bailout would be sufficiently large to banish any doubts.
“The loan amount must cover estimated capital requirements with an additional safety margin, estimated as summing up to 100 billion euros in total,” a Eurogroup statement said.
Top Customer: Under Obama, Fed’s Holdings of U.S. Debt Have Jumped 452%
By Terence P. Jeffrey
June 7, 2012
(CNSNews.com) – Since President Barack Obama was inaugurated in January 2009, the Federal Reserve’s holdings of U.S. government debt have quintupled, according to the Fed’s official monthly balance sheet.
On Jan. 28, 2009, a week after Obama’s nomination, the Fed owned $302 billion in U.S. Treasury securities. On April 25, 2012, the latest date reported, the Fed owned five and a half time that much in U.S. Treasury securities–$1.668 trillion.
That is an increase from January 2009 of $1.366 trillion—or 452 percent.
Stuck on Stupid: UBS May Have Facebook Trading Loss of $350 Million
Published: Friday, 8 Jun 2012 | 2:15 PM ET Text Size
By: Maria Bartiromo
UBS is sitting on losses that could be as high as $350 million stemming from its investment in the Facebook initial public offering, and is preparing legal action against Nasdaq as a result, people familiar with the matter told CNBC.
That loss is some ten-times more than the $30 million number that is currently being speculated in the market by others.
Labor Department backs off plan forcing reporters to use government-issued computers
The Labor Department has backed off a plan to force news agencies to use government-issued computers and other equipment to report on jobless reports and other key economic data, following a GOP-led House hearing this week, according to several published reports.
Agency officials have said they want reporters who analyze, then write about economic reports inside their so-called “lock up” room to use U.S. computers, software and Internet lines so the government can further protect against such potential security breaches as hacking.
But the plan also resulted in cries about potential free-speech violations and the government now having computer access to news agencies.
Bring your family and friends to enjoy Ridgewood July 4th Celebration on Wednesday, July 4th. Buy your tickets for the Fireworks in advance and save! Local Stores are selling tickets now or buy on line www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org
Schedule of Activities
9 AM – Flag Raising at Wilsey Square (near train station)
10 AM – Parade (Rain or Shine)
6 PM – Gates open for Fireworks – musical entertainment, twirlers, skydivers and FIREWORKS at dark.
The Village of Ridgewood Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and Saddle River repair project expected to go well into 2013
June 7,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , According to Village Manager Ken Gabbert, the work to repair and mend the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and Saddle River will likely begin during the late summer or early fall. The two waterways have experienced massive flooding and sustained significant amounts of erosion during last year’s record rainstorms.The Ho-Ho-Kus Brook in particular was heavily damaged by Hurricane Irene last summer. Gabbert told the Ridgewood News “Since Hurricane Floyd in 1999, there has been only spot work done in the brook,”
After a significant increase the village is looking to reduce localized flooding. The work will include the removal of sand bars, trees and other debris that have collected in the waterways after years of neglect and server storms.The scope of the work will span the entire length of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook in Ridgewood, with only minor work performed along the Saddle River.
The Village council introduced an ordinance last month to appropriate $155,000 for the second phase of watershed protective measures. This includes $128,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and approximately $27,000 from Ridgewood’s capital fund account.In April, the Village Council moved more than $343,000 in grants and another $78,000 from the capital fund balance to support the first phase of the project.
Village Manager Ken Gabber told the Ridgewood News that the project completion date will depend on the state Department of Environmental Protection’s requirements, the contractor’s schedules and any “surprises” that arise after work begins.
First federal survey on texting while driving: More than half of high school seniors do it
Think your teen would never text while driving? More than half of high school seniors admitted in a government survey that they’ve done just that.
It’s the first time the question was asked in a teen poll on risky behavior, and the finding comes amid a renewed federal crackdown on distracted driving.
Texting and cellphone use behind the wheel is “a national epidemic,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday.
Is the Community Hospital a Dying Model, or is it the Future of Healthcare?
Written by Sabrina Rodak | May 30, 2012
As the healthcare industry adopts the philosophy of accountable care, large hospitals and academic medical centers may seem to have the upper hand compared with community hospitals, because larger hospitals typically have greater access to revenue and offer more services along the continuum of care. “Academic medical centers offer complex services that for a variety of reasons produce better availability of capital,” says Tim Bateman, executive director of the community hospital network Community Hospital 100 and executive vice president of Lincoln Healthcare Events. However, community hospitals may be able to develop new care models more effectively because they are smaller and closely aligned with the community. Here, several community hospital leaders discuss the biggest challenges they face and what they have to do to thrive in the new era of healthcare.
Advantages and disadvantages of community hospitals
While often seen as a disadvantage, community hospitals’ small size may be an advantage in the drive to reduce costs and improve quality. “The smaller your system is, the easier it is to redesign it,” says John Chessare, MD, president and CEO of Greater Baltimore Medical Center HealthCare, which includes a 300-bed community hospital. “The larger your system is, the harder it is to get standardized work in place. And then you have to [ask], is it really a system or just a confederation of units? There are a lot of hospital companies that call themselves a system, but in reality each hospital is operating independently from each other. A community hospital and its medical staff should be able to get to care that is coordinated through the eyes of the patient at a much faster pace than a large hospital company with loosely affiliated physicians.” Small, close-knit community health systems may thus be able to change from a fee-for-service care delivery model to a pay-for-performance system more quickly and easier.
On the other hand, one of the disadvantages of community hospitals is their relatively lower access to medical professionals, partly due to their size and location. “[Academic medical centers] have access to larger pools of qualified medical staff and professionals,” Mr. Bateman says.
Ridgewood’s newest restaurant La Bottega held its grand opening Friday June 8th .We will be doming a secret tasting sometime in the next couple of days .
La Bottega, which means “the store or shop” in Italian, is a romantic Italian trattoria that embraces the gourmet tastes of Italy.
The “Home of the Perfect Panini,” La Bottega is a full-service dining venue that focuses on panini. The word panino [pa’ni•no] is Italian for “small bread roll”; its plural form is panini. The menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, entrees and the best desserts and gelato you’ve ever tasted.
La Bottega Ridgewood, NJ is a cozy, intimate setting for family and friends with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes each and every guest feel right at home. You will be guaranteed personal attention and only the freshest food. It’s like dining among family! Who said you had to go to Italy for enjoyable and affordable Italian cuisine!
Owner Frank and his partners decided to bring these big, bold, mouth-watering flavors to NJ. Originally from NY, and with experience from various backgrounds but with “food” as the common passion, they decided it was time to share this unique culinary experience with NJ. Searching for a concept that would surpass the flavors of a traditional “pizza shop,” they wanted to showcase this authentic taste of Italy.
14 Oak Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201-445-7222
www.Labottegaridgewoodnj.com
10 Failed Attempts by the Government to Control the Internet
POSTED ON JUNE 7, 2012 BY ISP
The topic that was dangling at the forefront of most American’s minds at the end of 2011, and even seeping into the beginning of 2012, was the fate of the internet. The Stop Online Piracy Act, discussed further below, whipped citizens into a frenzy and led to the largest internet-based protest to date. In light of a slightly-reworked, renamed SOPA’s emergence, here are ten failed attempts by the American government to control the internet.
Communications Decency Act (1996) –The portions of the Communications Decency Act that were the most controversial were the ones that attempted to regulate internet pornography; a judiciary panel stated that the bill would infringe on First Amendment rights and the bill was squashed.
Child Online Protection Act (1998) – Though the Child Online Protection Act was passed in 1998, a federal injunction claiming that the language was too broad caused the law to never take effect.
Internet School Filtering Act (1998) – While many of the Internet School Filtering Act’s points were eventually enacted through other legislation that did pass, the original bill was struck down.
Deleting Online Predators Act (2006) – The Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006 would have prohibited the use of social networking sites on school or library computers; critics argued, however, that the bill would also limit access to educationally useful information, and as such the bill languished.
Intellectual Property Enforcement Act (2007) – Proposed during the 110th session of Congress in an attempt to shore up American intellectual property laws, the Intellectual Property Enforcement Act would have allowed the Department of Justice to press civil charges against those suspected of infringement.
Cybersecurity Act (2009) – Though reworded versions of the Cybersecurity Act have been reintroduced each year since the original bill was drafted, public outcry over the unprecedented level of control it would grant the government with has kept any of them from passing.
Protecting Cyberspace As a National Asset Act (2010) – Senator Joe Lieberman introduced the Protecting Cyberspace As a National Asset Act in 2010. He then promptly incurred the wrath of critics for citing China’s similar policies in an attempt to portray the bill as standard government procedure.
Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (2010) – Activist organizations launched a full-scale attack on COICA, and Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden publicly announced his intention to block the bill. Though it did pass the Senate Judiciary Committee, it was killed off before it ever reached fruition.
PROTECT IP Act (2011) – The Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act, a re-write of the failed COICA introduced by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, was one of the 2011 targets of internet activists. The protests launched by major internet players led to the postponement of the bill until the issues were resolved, granting Americans a temporary victory.
Stop Online Piracy Act (2011) – Arguably the biggest rallying point for activists in 2011 and early 2012, SOPA led to full and partial protests that shutdown major websites in January of 2012. The bill was postponed until “there is wider agreement on a solution.”
Entertainment industry heavyweights have not given up on their crusade to end piracy; rather than changing their business model to adapt to the needs of a changing world, they’ve chosen to attack the civil liberties of law-abiding Americans.
Concussion lawsuits against NFL claims League fraudulently concealed long-term effects of head trauma
June 7, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, With more than 80 concussion-related lawsuits filed against the NFL by over 2,000 former players. A master complaint was filed Thursday in federal court in Philadelphia summarizing players’ claims saying the league fraudulently concealed long-term effects of head trauma for decades.
The compalint alleges that the ,”The NFL’s response to the issue of brain injuries … has been, until very recently, a concerted effort of deception and denial,” and that the “The NFL actively tried to and did conceal the extent of the concussion and brain trauma problem, the risk to the Plaintiffs, and the risks to anyone else who played football.”
The suits filed in various federal courts have been consolidated with U.S. District Judge Anita Brody.In April, Brody gave the players’ attorneys until Friday to file the master complaint. She has given NFL attorneys until Aug. 9 to respond to the complaint or file a motion to dismiss the cases — the latter being the likely response.
U.N. could tax U.S.-based Web sites, leaked docs show
Global Internet tax suggested by European network operators, who want Apple, Google, and other Web companies to pay to deliver content, is proposed for debate at a U.N. agency in December.
he United Nations is considering a new Internet tax targeting the largest Web content providers, including Google, Facebook, Apple, the Ridgewood blog and Netflix, that could cripple their ability to reach users in developing nations.
The European proposal, offered for debate at a December meeting of a U.N. agency called the International Telecommunication Union, would amend an existing telecommunications treaty by imposing heavy costs on popular Web sites and their network providers for the privilege of serving non-U.S. users, according to newly leaked documents.
The documents (No. 1 No. 2) punctuate warnings that the Obama administration and Republican members of Congress raised last week about how secret negotiations at the ITU over an international communications treaty could result in a radical re-engineering of the Internet ecosystem and allow governments to monitor or restrict their citizens’ online activities.
Rep. Garrett delivering a flag from the U.S. Capitol building to Bethlehem Lutheran Church Congregational President Mike Skorski to honor the church’s 100th anniversary in Ridgewood.
Scott Garrett travels around the 5th District
I wanted to share some pictures with you from my recent travels around the 5th District.
As unemployment remains stalled above 8%, I continue to make it my top priority to meet with job creators throughout North Jersey. With stops at Montague Bagel Factory, Vidyo, Inc., Promotion in Motion and Park Avenue BMW, I had the chance to discuss some of the issues businesses are facing in this difficult economic environment. If we want to have a true recovery, businesses like these cannot be tied down by the heavy hand of government regulation.
In addition to meeting with the men and women of North Jersey’s business community, I had the pleasure of meeting with some folks who work tirelessly to keep our towns safe. It was an honor to attend the Ramsey Knights of Columbus’s Shield Awards celebration where they paid tribute to five deserving first responders with awards and recognition for their outstanding service to the community. Also, I presented a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ridgewood in honor of their 100th Anniversary celebration.
I look forward to a summer full of discussions and meetings with constituents so I can continue to fight for issues that are important to them in our nation’s capital. The residents of North Jersey always show me exactly how they are planning for the future and looking to better days.
Sincerely,
Scott Garrett
Be a Part of the Tradition: Looking for Yankee Doodle Dandies
July 4th in Ridgewood is a very special day that our entire area looks forward to all year. This year’s theme is “Born in New Jersey.” The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Committee is actively preparing for what we know will be a spectacular celebration.
This year’s committee float will feature a birthday cake. We are looking for “Yankee Doodle Dandies”, people born on the Fourth of July. The first fifteen people to respond will be able to ride on the float. The others can walk along side.
If you or someone in your family has a July 4th birthday, please send an email to ridgewood4th@gmail.com. Please include name, age if the person is a child and contact information. Our committee will contact you in late June to give you the details for the parade.
The Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration began in 1910 when the local papers, the civic section of the Woman’s Club and the Ridgewood Fire Department joined forces to create a “safe and sane” holiday with an emphasis on Patriotism. It has grown into one of the largest celebrations in the New York City area and has been featured on CNN and Good Morning America as well as local New York stations. The celebration was once again named Best Parade and Fireworks by the readers of 201 Magazine.
Additional information and answers to many of your questions can be found on the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration’s website at www.ridgewoodjuly4th.org. Thank you for “Supporting the Tradition”.
Ground-Breaking Pizza Master, Antonio Starita, to Share Montanara Pizza-Making Techniques at A Mano in Ridgewood, NJ
First Chef to Introduce Today’s Hottest Pizza, Montanara, to the US in 2007 Returns to A Mano for One-Day-Only Demonstration & Tasting
Ridgewood New Jersey’s authentic Neapolitan trattoria A Mano, will proudly host worldfamous Italian pizza chef, Antonio Starita, for a tasting and viewing of the craftsmanship of Montanara, the hippest trend in pizza. Taking place on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 6:30 PM
by reservation only, maestro Starita will teach the art of making Montanara, a lightly fried Neapolitan specialty pizza, followed by a tasting. The cost of the demonstration is $10 per person, which will be credited towards dinner immediately following the event.
For pizza fanatics, this exclusive event is not-to-bemissed. The revolutionary Mr. Starita was the first chef to put Montanara on the US pizza map by introducing it to American soil in 2007 at a special event at A Mano. Today, Montanara has become the pizza-of-themoment amongst the media and pizza aficionados.
Starita’s version of the specialty pie, “Montanara Starita”, is pizza dough that is lightly fried, then topped with signature Starita tomato sauce, imported smoked bu!alo mozzarella and fresh basil leaves, which is then finished in the wood burning oven. Ten years ago, Starita was the first pizza chef to originate the technique of finishing the Montanara in the wood-fired oven after flash-frying it, in order to dry a bit of the oil. The fry-then-bake recipe has since been emulated by many pizza makers. The celebrated pizzaiolo was also the first to top the specialty pizza with smoked mozzarella, which was traditionally garnished with pecorino romano or parmesan cheese.
Montanara Starita can be found on the menus of Mr. Starita’s restaurants, Don Antonio by Starita which opened February 2012 at 309 West 50th Street in New York City, and Pizzeria Starita a Materdei, the preeminent pizza spot in Naples, Italy.
Antonio Starita, world-renowned Neapolitan pizza master
Photo Credit: Anthony Bianciella Photography
Educational Neapolitan Montanara pizza-making demonstration & tasting ($10 per person) led by celebrated Neapolitan pizza chef, at A Mano, in Ridgewood, NJ
When: Thursday, June 21st, 6:30 PM
Where: A Mano – 24 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, Telephone: 201.493.2000 Website: www.amanopizza.com
Reservations Required: Limited engagement. Please call A Mano for reservations
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