Posted on

>Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Resigns Over Global Warming

>Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Resigns Over Global Warming 
Published September 14, 2011
FoxNews.com

Dr. Ivar Giaever, a former professor with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the 1973 winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday, Sept. 13, from the premier physics society in disgust over its officially stated policy that “global warming is occurring.”

The official position of the American Physical Society (APS) supports the theory that man’s actions have inexorably led to the warming of the planet, through increased emissions of carbon dioxide.

Giaever does not agree — and put it bluntly and succinctly in the subject line of his email, reprinted at Climate Depot, a website devoted to debunking the theory of man-made climate change.

“I resign from APS,” Giaever wrote.

Giaever was cooled to the statement on warming theory by a line claiming that “the evidence is incontrovertible.”

“In the APS it is ok to discuss whether the mass of the proton changes over time and how a multi-universe behaves, but the evidence of global warming is incontrovertible?” he wrote in an email to Kate Kirby, executive officer of the physics society.

“The claim … is that the temperature has changed from ~288.0 to ~288.8 degree Kelvin in about 150 years, which (if true) means to me is that the temperature has been amazingly stable, and both human health and happiness have definitely improved in this ‘warming’ period,” his email message said.

Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/09/14/nobel-prize-winning-physicist-resigns-from-top-physics-group-over-global/#ixzz1Y3RkmizG

Posted on

>NJ town yanks 9/11 marker with politicians’ names

>

NJ town yanks 9/11 marker with politicians’ names

Apologetic officials in a small New Jersey town rushed Wednesday to remove a stone marker commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks amid an uproar about what the monument didn’t include — any reference to what happened, or the victims — and what it did — the names of the mayor and other local officials.

Samir Elbassiouny, mayor of Washington Township, a 6,600-resident community in northwest New Jersey’s Warren County, said he did not mean to put up a marker that looked as if it was about officials, not the victims.

He also said people who were so angry about the sign were blowing it out of proportion.
“The most important thing is for us not to take away from the intent of the event. It’s truly a misunderstanding,” he said. “The intent is to honor the victims of 9/11.”  (Associated Press)

Posted on

>Mount Holly Housing decision reversed

>

Mount Holly Housing decision reversed

Residents of a Mount Holly redevelopment plan have won a federal court appeal in a discrimination case and will get their day in court.

In reversing the decision of a federal district court in Camden that favored the municipality, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said the lower court needed to develop more facts to decide whether redevelopment of the Mount Holly Gardens neighborhood discriminates against its primarily low-income and minority residents.

Most of the more than 300 houses in the blighted neighborhood already have been torn down and residents displaced by the township. A federal court order halted further demolition in March pending the appeal.
It what could be a precedent-setting case, the appeals court sent the lawsuit back to U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman for further discovery of facts, which could lead either to a trial or to another summary judgment hearing without a trial.  (Comegno, Gannett)

Posted on

>Stuck on Stupid: N.J. taxpayers picking up $420K to cover ‘Jersey Shore’ production costs

>

N.J. taxpayers picking up $420K to cover ‘Jersey Shore’ production costs

New Jersey residents got their bar tab today from the cast of the hit television show the “Jersey Shore” — and it was a big one.

Taxpayers will be picking up to $420,000 of the production costs from the show’s inaugural 2009 season under a state film tax credit approved today by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
The approval was part of the first round of film tax credits awarded by the EDA since Gov. Chris Christie suspended the program in 2010 to close budget deficit, and state officials said it was based on a set of strict guidelines that is blind to the show’s content.

But, news of the award drew sharp criticism from some the state’s biggest critics of the tax incentive program.
“I can’t believe we are paying for fake tanning for ‘Snooki’ and ‘The Situation’, and I am not even sure $420,000 covers that,” said Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “This is a great investment for the taxpayers, as if they can make a show called ‘Jersey Shore’ anywhere else.”  (Renshaw, The Star-Ledger)

Posted on

>Jerseyan’s credit card debt drops 13.5 percent

>

Jerseyan’s credit card debt drops 13.5 percent

Borrowing to buy has been trending downward as many people, dogged by rising poverty, high unemployment and falling incomes — and spurred by the fear that comes with it all — put their financial houses in order.

A report released Wednesday by CreditKarma.com, a free credit management website, shows that credit card debt nationally fell by a whopping 18 percent from August 2010 to last month.

“The relative uncertainty of the current job market has forced consumers to live within their means and focus on being financially responsible,” said Kenneth Lin, CEO of CreditKarma.com.

Lin said the figures are based on a survey of about a quarter of a million consumers.
The average credit card debt for New Jersey consumers fell from $8,475 to $7,326 year over year — about a 13.5 percent decline.  (Serrano, Gannett)

Posted on

>Ridgewood council keeping municipal elections in May

>Ridgewood council keeping municipal elections in May

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
BY KELLY EBBELS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood’s council members reached a consensus that the village should keep its municipal elections in May rather than move them to November.

Eschewing arguments of tax dollar savings and higher voter turnout, council members instead concluded at last Wednesday’s meeting that the non-partisan nature of village elections would be at risk should the ballots be moved to November, when general and presidential elections are held.

November elections would put municipal candidates on the same ballot as candidates in other elections, and although Ridgewood candidates would not be listed under a political party, voters may not realize the non-partisan nature of the local election due to the layout of the ballots or other reasons, officials said.

https://www.northjersey.com/topstories/ridgewood/129796073_Ridgewood_council_keeping_municipal_elections_in_May.html

Posted on

>Penn Jillette, "Big" John McCarthy and Jermaine Jackson @ BOOKENDS

>

GodNo theridgewoodblog.net

Penn Jillette Thursday, September 15th @ 7:00pm
From Penn & Teller, Penn Jillette, will sign his new book:  God, No!  Books available Sept. 1st

LetsGetItOn theridgewoodblog.net

“Big” John McCarthy Friday,September 16th @ 7:00pm
Legendary UFC Referee, “Big John McCarthy will sign his new book: Let’s Get On It Books available Sept. 1st

JermaineJackson theridgewoodblog.net

Jermaine Jackson Saturday, September 17  @ 1:00pm
World Famous Singer, Jermaine Jackson, will sign his new book:  You are Not Alone Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes Books available Sept. 13th

Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.Please call the store for details.

Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ   07450   201-445-0726

Posted on

>DONNA PEDERSEN IS ASHBY AWARD WINNER

>DONNA PEDERSEN IS ASHBY AWARD WINNER

The 2011 winner of the coveted Ashby Award is Donna Pedersen, First Grade Teacher at Ridge Elementary School. Donna has been with the Ridgewood Public Schools since January 1, 1983, when she first entered the teaching profession.  Donna received a B.S. in Elementary Education and Rehabilitation from Springfield College, and an M.S. in Special Education from C. W. Post. Congratulations, Donna!

Click here to read Dr. Fishbein’s remarks at the Ashby Award presentation at Convocation on September 1 : https://tinyurl.com/3gq69gf

Save 15% on Birthday Flowers & Gifts at 1800Flowers.com and let us arrange a birthday smile for you. Use Promotion Code HAPPYBDAY15 at checkout. - 300x100show?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=216823

Posted on

>I’d much rather have teachers than astroturf and lights in a flood zone.

>I’d much rather have teachers than astroturf and lights in a flood zone. 

If the people charged with spending this money had used their heads, we would not have a result that will require endless, expensive repairs.

If the firm installing it won’t even guarantee it… then why was such a decision ever made? This is what we pay higher than other towns for?

When I went to school here (K-12) it was the baby boom and nearly all classes had 30 or more kids. The field use was very high too, and we didn’t need astroturf nor lights despite many more in schools than today.

Send your Sympathies with Flowers & Gifts from 1800Flowers.com - 300x100show?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=216823

Posted on

>RHS students named as National Merit semifinalists

>RHS students named as National Merit semifinalists

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Four students from Ridgewood High School have been named as semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million.

The Ridgewood students are Chongsuh Chun, Junyoung Kim, Elizabeth A. Mattson and Lan Wang.

About 90 percent of the nation’s semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/129806153_RHS_students_named_as_National_Merit_semifinalists.html

Posted on

>Cell Tower Hearing Postponed until January 24, 2012!

>Cell Tower Hearing Postponed until January 24, 2012!

RIDGEWOOD – NJ) Bruce Whitaker, the Zoning Board Attorney, has received a request from T-Mobile to postpone their application before the Board until after the New Year.  The Village is looking to a January 24th hearing date. Announcement will be forth coming  on September 27th.


https://tinyurl.com/3u9cvfn

wine.comshow?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=209195

Posted on

>Fine Print: New Jersey’s SAT profile, 2011

>

Fine Print: New Jersey’s SAT profile, 2011

What it is: The College Board each year releases the mean SAT scores and other data for millions of college-bound students, broken down both nationally and state by state. The SAT scores are the most closely monitored, but the report also provides extensive data on courses and grades.

Why it matters: This year, much of the attention is on the sudden drop in the mean scores across the country, on every test, with reading scores the lowest on record. In New Jersey, the overall math score rose slightly, up two points, while reading and writing stayed the same. But the state’s public school numbers were not as promising, falling an overall 11 points on all three tests.

The numbers everyone cares about: New Jersey saw no change in its overall mean scores in reading (495) and writing (497), and the slight rise in math (516), each of them out of a maximum of 800. The reading score remains a little below the national mean (497), but the state slightly topped the national norm in both math (514) and writing (489). Still, New Jersey’s public school numbers were more troubling, falling three or four points in each of the tests, to 492 in reading, 516 in math and 494 in writing.  (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

Posted on

>NJ Transit promises Port Authority toll increases will not mean higher fares

>

NJ Transit promises Port Authority toll increases will not mean higher fares

NJ Transit officials said they have no plans to increase bus fares, even though the toll that the agency will pay for buses to cross the Hudson River will increase by $6 per bus starting Sunday.

Executive Director James Weinstein said Wednesday that the increased cost, estimated at an $4.6 million, would be absorbed by the agency by putting off doing “other things.”

Academy Bus officials notified customers Tuesday that a fare increase could be in the works because of the increase in Hudson River crossing tolls at Port Authority facilities. The toll for commuter buses is set to increase from $4 to $10 per bus on Sept. 18, the same date that all Port Authority tolls and PATH fares are scheduled to rise.

Some commuter advocates called on the Port Authority to waive the toll increase for commuter buses. A Port Authority spokesman said they’ve received no requests for a waiver so far.  (Higgs, Gannett)

Posted on

>NJ Public Schools: parents and other visitors here may soon have to pass background checks

>

NJ Public Schools: parents and other visitors here may soon have to pass background checks

Staff members may not be the only ones who have to submit to background checks in Marlboro Public Schools – parents and other visitors here may soon have to pass them, too.

The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the township a $37,500 Community Oriented Policing Services-Secure Our Schools grant, district officials and legislators said. The approval came on the heels of recent board talks about purchasing a security system that would check visitor backgrounds at all eight district schools.

Marlboro was one of seven communities, including Bayonne and Berkeley Heights Township, to apply for and receive the federal funds, which totaled $530,000. The funds may be used for metal detectors, locks, security systems and other safety measures.

“New Jersey’s students and teachers should never have to worry about their safety in our schools,” said U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the grant program.  (Williams Boyd, Gannett)

Posted on

>Taking the first steps toward a New Jersey healthcare exchange

>

Taking the first steps toward a New Jersey healthcare exchange

The law — at least on this point– is clear. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that healthcare insurance exchanges — virtual marketplaces that let individuals and small businesses comparison shop for health coverage — must be established in all states by January 2014.

Defining the details of an exchange, however, is left up to individual states. That task brought analysts, advocates and researchers to Trenton yesterday, to a stakeholder forum co-hosted by NJ for Health Care and the NJ Citizen Action Education Fund.

Discussion among panelists and findings from a report released by Rutgers University last month reveal that there is general agreement that New Jersey should create its own exchange — streamlined and simple to use.
Panelist Ray Castro, senior policy analyst with research organization New Jersey Policy Perspective, said that while New Jersey is already ahead of other states in terms of health policies, “by having our own exchange we’re going to be able to tailor the exchange to meet the needs in our state.  (Roman, NJ Spotlight)