Dateline: Atlantic City -Morgan Stanley Bank filed Wednesday with the SEC indicating the impending sale/auction of their failing Revel casino. Morgan’s board recognized the failure of the casino before New Jersey state legislators, poised to pour $300 million into the project, recognized the danger of the risky investment.
In a shocking demonstration of the New Jersey State Legislature’s willingness to gamble on highly risky bailouts, under the guise of “economic development”, the Board of Morgan Stanley has indicated it would rather take the loss before pouring more money into the project. State legislators who voted for the project demonstrated they have no idea how bad the investment of $300 million of taxpayers is, or simply do not care. New Jersey needs legislators who understand the danger of these risky bailouts, not political hacks bowing to special interests. Once again, the lesson learned is that government should stay out of the private sector.
For the Revel bailout to continue forward would be reckless and irresponsible on a massive scale. Throwing money at Revel would be reminiscent of the $180 million lost on Lehman Brothers by the state pension system as they were on the way out of business.
CALL GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE TODAY AT 609-292-6000. Tell him not to gamble our taxpayer dollars on another risky and reckless bailout!
1. Demonstrate that Graydon remains a community gathering place, eliminating once and for all the argument that “no one goes there.” 2. Restock the Village’s coffers, refuting the complaint that “Graydon always loses money.” 3. Graydon is fun!
Our March 23 meeting PowerPoint slides provide the high points. In the section “Environmental Regulations and the Mystery of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook,” a professional geologist presents his new research on the likely hydraulic connection between Graydon, the aquifer, and the brook. He lists the permits that would probably be difficult for the Village to obtain if they tried to build there—including one required for construction in a flood hazard zone.
Ping-pong and storytime New this summer: ping-pong at Graydon. Lucy Rieger has donated a table; Marcia provided a net and paddles. Parks & Rec would welcome a second table and wants to bring storytime and related activities back to Graydon. If you have a spare ping-pong table or if you are a current or retired teacher interested in leading storytime (modest stipend available), please call Deputy Director Nancy Bigos at (201) 670-5560 to discuss details. Say that Preserve sent you.
>The article at the link below, titled “A Brief History of Tenure”, appeared in Time Magazine in November of 2008. Please go to the link and read the article. It provides an interesting evolution of tenure and illustrates how it was intended for “distinguished and published professors” and is not appropriate for K-12 teachers. The model adopted by Oregon in 1997 sounds like a GREAT approach. In that year, Oregon abolished tenure and replaced it with 2-year renewable contracts and a rehabilitation program for underachieving instructors.
I (and I believe most Ridgewood residents) want high caliber teachers, who are well paid. Perhaps if teachers began working WITH the community and were receptive to being held accountable, they would realize that the community stands behind our most effective and inspirational teachers and administrators. This article could very well have been written last night after “tone deaf” teachers cast a cowardly and disgraceful vote AGAINST the community and threw their non-tenured bretheren to the street.
The conclusion of the article says it all…”Whatever the problem, most teachers and administrators agree the status quo isn’t working and that change can’t come too soon. Announcing her plan last month, Rhee said, ‘Students cannot wait for accountable teachers while adults argue’.”
When will ALL Ridgewood teachers hold themselves accountable?
>Honorable Chris Christie Governor, State of New Jersey State House 125 West State Street P.O. Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625
Dear Governor Christie:
As you know, I strongly oppose repeal of Bergen County’s Blue Laws. Last week you challenged Bergen legislators to find an alternative to the $65 million in sales tax revenue the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association projects would be collected if Blue Laws are repealed in Bergen County. As of yet no one has responded with new and or innovative ideas. Let me attempt to fill that void and offer a number of suggestions.
First, please note my letter of November 13, 2008 (see attached) to then Governor Corzine with copies to north Jersey legislators (including those representing Bergen County) in which I first I suggested and now again propose that the state collect the seven percent sales tax from the New York Giants and New York Jets that should be owed on the initial sale of Personal Seat Licenses by the teams. The Jets and Giants projected revenue of no less than $800 million from these sales. That will generate one-time revenue of approximately $56 million. New Jersey taxpayers and not billionaire team owners from New York should be the beneficiaries of this windfall.
You have suggested that all contracts involving the state and its agencies should be reexamined in order to find additional benefits to both close the budget gap and thereby assist New Jersey’s overburdened taxpayers. You have asked all taxpayers, homeowners, teachers, public employees, boards of education, municipalities and others to sacrifice. Shouldn’t the Jets and Giants be included?
I feel strongly that all Sports Authority related contracts (including the lucrative contracts with the Jets and Giants) be re-examined for review and possible changes to insure that the maximum benefit possible is accruing to taxpayers.
Second, I recommend that you authorize and immediately establish an Office of Asset and Revenue Recovery in the Attorney General’s Office. The sole purpose of this office will be to use the civil process to recover the hundreds of millions of dollars already identified as having been wasted, misapplied or fraudulently spent by public agencies including the School Construction Corp., UMDNJ, etc. In addition, this office should immediately pursue action against entities such as “EnCap” whose activities have already been reviewed by the Inspector General.
Third, I would urge you to establish a Statewide Taxpayer Hotline both via telephone and on-line so that waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement can be identified and appropriate action initiated. My first act as County Executive will be to establish such a Hotline in Bergen County.
I look forward to working cooperatively with you and your administration to resolve issues through creative and innovative problem solving. Unfortunately, we have seen in the past week or so that too many elected officials prefer political pandering and stooping to the lowest common denominator rather than working on behalf of their constituents. Elected officials have many tasks. Grandstanding and political expediency are not among them.
Bart Stupak has cut a deal w/Obama in which the President will create an executive order eliminating the funding of abortion that exists in the Senate Bill. This in turn for Stupak’s “yes” vote on HC.
But, Executive Orders are nearly worthless as long term guarantees, since the incoming President can easily change them.
Deal Watch Blog https://www.nrcc.org/codered/dealwatch/?p=52
Obama Administration Awarded Hundreds of Thousands in Airport Grants to Stupak’s District Two Days Before Vote Was this Yet Another Backroom Deal to Force Obama’s Bill Down the American People’s Throats?
Three airports in the district of infamous fence-sitting and ultimately kowtowing Democrat Bart Stupak were awarded $726,409 in grants by the Obama Administration just two days before a vote on Obama and Pelosi’s government takeover of healthcare.
Did Stupak compromise his supposed principled stand against taxpayer funding of abortion in exchange for taxpayer dollars for pet projects?
Alpena County Regional Airport received a $85,500 grant, but had only 7,519 passenger boardings in 2008 (the most recent year for which there is information) according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. Alpena County Regional Airport serves fewer passengers than even the late Rep. John Murtha’s famous “Airport for Nobody.”
Delta County Airport has even less customers than that, but still received a $179,209 grant.
Chippewa County International Airport received a $461,700 grant, but had only 13,733 passenger boardings in 2008.
Will Stupak come clean about this apparent backroom deal for his vote?
Call Stupak’s district office at (989) 356-0690 and ask. https://www.nrcc.org/codered/dealwatch/?p=52
Neapolitan Recipes from Visiting Chefs and Grandmothers; Fresh, Impeccable Ingredients the Cornerstone in Simple Preparations that Celebrate Natural Flavors and Textures
(Ridgewood, NJ: March 19, 2010) A Mano, the Ridgewood Neapolitan trattoria and one of only three U.S. restaurants to receive prestigious certifications from both the Verace Pizza Napoletana and Associazone Pizzaiuoli Napoletani, the recognized authorities of Naples, Italy on traditional Neapolitan Pizza, has added Shrimp, Tilapia, Veal and Chicken entrees to their menu, along with several new appetizer, pasta, pizza and Panini options. “We are a Neapolitan restaurant and with that comes hundreds of years of traditions and classic preparations, which we bring to our patrons,” said Fred Mortati, co-owner of A Mano. “A Mano functions as both a learning center with celebrated Neapolitan chefs visiting year-round bringing with them new specialties and age old traditions. We are a culinary mecca for people who care about the craft of authentic Neapolitan pizza making and authentic Italian food preparation. Our new entrees showcase the high regard Neapolitans have for the best ingredients, bringing them together in simple preparations that allow flavors to shine through. This is simple, delicious food that brings together comfort and delight.”
Shrimp Scampi ($17.99), jumbo shrimp sautéed in extra virgin olive oil, white wine, lemon and garlic, is served over linguine. Tilapia Cartoccio ($19.99) with potatoes, onions, tomato and olives, baked in a foil poach in A Mano’s wood-burning ovens, is finished with extra virgin olive oil. Osso Buco ($24.99), braised in A Mano’s wood burning ovens in a rich onion and mushroom sauce, is served over homemade pappardelle with sautéed squash, carrot and peppers as an accompaniment. Chicken Pizzaiola ($17.99) is boneless chicken breast breaded and oven baked with tomatoes, basil, oregano, sautéed onions and finished with extra virgin olive oil.
The restaurant’s selection of 25 different pizzas, all of which are available with traditional, whole wheat and gluten-free doughs, speak to classic combinations of hand-squeezed San Marzano tomatoes, homemade Mozzarella, flavorful cured meats, delicately sautéed vegetables and a host of flavorful cow and sheep’s milk cheeses. “During his March 6th visit, master pizza chef Antonino Esposito sautéed fresh chopped spinach in butter and incorporated this into pizza dough. The result is a beautifully colored and delicately flavored Spinacci pie ($15.99), complemented when topped with our house made Mozzarella, fresh cherry tomatoes, sea salt and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. This will be offered as a special and available on occasion,” explained Mr. Mortati.
“There’s a beauty to our pizza, which is not always understood by the American palate: classic Neapolitan pizza is considered a slow food. It is eaten with a knife and fork. It’s not food on the go, folded in half and eaten while walking down the street. Our Caputo flour, the world’s best pizza flour which we import in bulk from Italy to make our dough with, has a special flavor all its own and we don’t want to lose that by overcooking it. So our pies (starting at $8.99), like true Neapolitan pizzas, are cooked for under 2 minutes in 1,000 degree ovens, emerging slightly charred around the edges and soft in the middle, so the flour and yeast in them can be savored.”
A Mano also imports a special Caputo pasta flour for use in the preparation of its homemade lasagna sheets, and now papparedelle (wide ribbon) and taggliatelle (thin ribbon) pastas ($12.99). “These pastas are made exactly the way they are in Naples, so the true flavors of flour and eggs are enjoyed when paired with any of our homemade sauces: tomato basil, Bolognese, pesto, alfredo and truffle cream,” added Mr. Mortati.
New appetizer, salad and Panini offerings marry traditional, how-your-grandmother-made-it preparations with new twists, such as elegant grilled artichoke hearts or tender, flash-fried calamari over salad greens ($10.99-$11.99)along with homemade meatball, sausage or Bresaola (cured beef)-filled Panini ($8.99).
A Mano is located at 24 Franklin Avenue (at the corner of Chestnut Street), Ridgewood, NJ 07450. For more information, please call 201-493-2000
THIS SUNDAY!!! Tea Party Documentary Film March 21, 2010 (Sunday) – 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM 124 Essex Street, Rochelle Park, NJ – Back Door
Nothing tells the true story of the Tea Party movement better than the Tea Party Movie! Cheered by audiences at CPAC, at the Tea Party Convention and screening parties nationwide, this inspirational and powerful story explains core principals, and gets to heart of why “We The People” are taking our country back!
THIS COMING THURSDAY!!! God And Country – The Vision of Our Founding Fathers – A Historical Remembrance March 25, 2010 (Thursday) – 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS – 70 Pascack Road, Township of Washington 07676, NJ
Join us in celebrating our rich history with a theatrical recitation of quotes from some of our Founding Fathers and musical songs with Anthony Tabish.
PLEASE NOTE: This Event is being presented in a different location than originally posted. Special Guest: Peter Ferrara, ESQ. – Constitutional lawyer from the ACRU (American Civil Rights Union) The event is free and light refreshments will be served afterwards
>In a March 12 message sent to the email list of the Ridgewood Pool Project (RPP), co-chairs Melinda Cronk and Jane Morales make a number of points based on privileged information obtained through their participation on the Village Council–appointed Graydon Pool Committee. Although The Preserve Graydon Coalition’s repeated requests to the Council for transparency regarding the content of committee meetings were ignored or denied, I chose to abide by the agreement among Committee members not to broadcast what had occurred during the meetings. Now that that trust has been violated, I feel compelled to set the record straight.
Truth-Twist #1: “Essentially Keep a Similar Size and Shape”At a recent Committee meeting, Tom Masterson, owner of Masterson Pools in Ramsey, presented a design for a concrete pool. The March 12 RPP email message states that Masterson’s proposed design would create “a concrete barrier in the existing pond which would essentially keep a similar size and shape to what we have now.” What the RPP fails to mention is that Masterson also told the Committee that two artificial islands would have to be constructed in the middle of Graydon to house the pool machinery. Each island would be approximately the size of the existing island with the sycamore tree, which would remain. In fact, Graydon’s swimming area would not remain “essentially the same,” but would be considerably smaller. According to the RPP, 6,000 people would have to join in order to repay the enormous bond required to build a new concrete facility. Imagine Graydon on a hot summer Sunday in July: too many people in not enough water (or parking spaces).
Truth-Twist #2: “Disinfected Water Is Paramount”RPP claims that only a concrete pool can be disinfected are untrue.
Chlorine kills only 1% of the bacteria in any swimming pool, leaving 99% to thrive, protected by a naturally occurring substance called biofilm. Recently, Graydon started using AQ-C28, an additive that destroys biofilm naturally. This product improves both the clarity and the cleanliness of the water because it eats away at the biofilm, leaving bacteria exposed to the effects of chlorine. AQ-C28 allows disinfection to occur by ridding the pool of organic material and allowing the chlorine to work more efficiently against bacteria.
At Graydon Pool Committee meetings, the RPP co-chairs have suggested ultraviolet light (UV) and ozone filtration, which are used in some pools, to help reduce the amount of chlorine needed. However, these two modalities could not adequately address the problems caused by biofilm. In addition, they entail considerable maintenance and operational costs.
AQ-C28 was used at Graydon for the first time in 2008. This year, besides being used in the water throughout the swimming season, the biocatalyst will be sprayed over the pool bottom to clear it of organic material before new sand is added. Last year AQ-C28 worked so well that 70% less chlorine was needed at Graydon, reducing costs and the impact of chemicals on swimmers.
The chemical methods to be used at Graydon in 2010 are healthy for both the environment and people. Graydon’s water not only passes but surpasses all tests required by the state to assure public health. Truth-Twist #3: “Fraction of the Cost” The proposed concrete pool about which the RPP co-chairs say they are “excited” would cost an estimated $8-12 million. What is that a “fraction of the cost” of, as they call it–the $13.9 million project that they proposed in January 2009? or the $10 million project they proposed on July 1, 2009? Or is it possible that they are dredging up the $22 million price tag of a project discussed prior to both of these proposals, which was rejected so quickly and so long ago that no one even remembers it? Is $8-12 million a fraction—or a distraction? Either way, Ridgewood can’t afford it.
I teach reading, but let’s do the math. Say that their concrete pool cost $10 million and that 6,000 people joined every year for 25 years, as would be needed to pay off the bond. A $150 fee per badge, as the RPP proposes, would then supply $900,000 in revenue each year. Bond payments would be $633,000 per year, leaving $267,000 for maintenance and operational costs.
Such costs at Stonybrook, a concrete pool in Hillsdale of comparable size, totaled $717,100 in 2009. The early bird price at Stonybrook for an individual over 18 will be $388 this year; for age 62 and up, $220. Family discounts are offered.
For a concretized Graydon, $450,000 would be spent each year beyond what was available through badge revenue. Where would the money come from? You guessed it: the taxpayer.
Truth-Twist #4: “Spent Over $750,000 in Ten Years”The RPP email message continues: “Over the past ten years, the Village has invested over $750,000 on Graydon improvements.” They do not mention that most of this figure, obtained by the RPP by special request to the Graydon Pool Committee, is represented by the $650,000 patio project completed in 1999 (more than 10 years ago) and included the construction of the lifeguard office and First Aid building.
Of the $100,000 remaining from the dollar amount cited, $41,000 paid for the fence and a few thousand dollars went for chemicals, which constitute a normal operational expense, not a facility improvement, as “improvements” implies.
The RPP co-chairs clearly wish to give the impression to the public (that is, voters) that lots of money is spent (read: wasted) on Graydon on an ongoing basis. But the buildings and fence are done. The Village is not routinely spending $75,000 a year, as the RPP email message implies, on improvements to Graydon. In addition, the entire list contains only one capital investment item, in 2009, for improving water quality: a diffuser to aerate the water ($17,875). It has only been in the past two years that capital improvements have been made to improve water quality. The word is getting out. March is too early to predict membership numbers for this summer.
Truth-Twist #5: “Membership Continues to Plummet” Graydon’ s membership never dropped below 4,000 members until the Ridgewood Pool Project began its negative publicity campaign to malign the pool. In fact, the average number of members at all the local concrete pools for the 2009 season was 4,000 members. The RPP became official in the winter of 2007. They marched in the Fourth of July parade and set up tables at Graydon to advertise their cause. That summer, Graydon’s membership did plummet from 4,100 in 2006 to 2,800 in 2007. Never before had Graydon experienced such a dramatic reduction in membership. Coincidence?
The RPP has sabotaged Graydon membership in many ways. Since this post is getting long, only one additional point follows.
In March 2009, a flyer was disseminated to the public at the RPP’s open house entitled “Graydon Health Concerns—Fact or Fiction?” This flyer was filled with half-truths, at best.
In the flyer, the RPP stated that it is “essential that the level of chlorine be limited” in Graydon because when “chlorine is added to water with organic material (such as the algae and decaying leaves in Graydon) the reaction causes trihalomethanes (THMs).” The concern is that THMs, which are absorbed through the skin, are carcinogenic.
Organic material is present in all pools, including concrete pools, and includes body oils, perspiration, urine, and more. Combine all this organic material with the huge amount of chlorine used in a concrete pool, especially a small, crowded one, and you have quite a nice THM cocktail. While Graydon must test for THMs each month because some of its water seeps into the ground, concrete pools are not required to test for THMs at all. According to the medical literature, THM concentrations in swimming pools may exceed the EPA limit several times over. The formation of THMs in pool water is a growing public health concern.
Graydon’s test results for THMs showed “none detected” in both June and July 2009. In August the THM level was 35.2 parts per billion (ppb), more than “none” but still very safe and less than the 80 ppb permissible by both the State of New Jersey and the federal Environmental Protection Agency in drinking water. And that increase occurred only because of an undetected leak (we’re told it was a hairline crack) in the chlorine pump. This will not happen again because a chlorine flow monitor will be installed this year.
This post barely touches on the RPP’s steady manipulation of facts over several years to scare people into thinking they want or need a concrete pool. After reading it, do you believe the RPP is working in the best interest of the Village?
Suzanne Kelly Member, Village Council Graydon Pool Committee Co-Chair, The Preserve Graydon Coalition
>Please attend our meeting this Tuesday, March 23, at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7)
Location: Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center, 475 Grove St., Ridgewood
Learn about: Council’s Graydon Pool Committee; RFP update How Graydon is disinfected; water quality improvements in 2009 and 2010 New badge fees with Early Bird discount, on sale April 1
Special guests: Two candidates for Council who want Graydon preserved: Tom Riche and Bernie (Bernadette) Walsh
Certified Professional Geologist Charles Stebbins on the environmental regulations that could prevent the construction of a concrete pool
We hope to see you Tuesday night. Doors open at 7 PM; meeting starts promptly at 7:30. Please spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, and your 100 best friends.
Washington (CNN) – The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Democrats’ revised health care bill will cost $940 billion over the next 10 years, a House Democratic source told CNN Thursday.
The bill cuts the deficit by $130 billion during that period of time, according to the source. ( if you believe this I got a bridge I want to sell you)
So government takeover of Healthcare will now cost a wopping $940 Billion!!! Add the Medicare cuts, tax increases and inevitable rationing and addition to the Medicaid enrollment, and 2409 pages of mandates and ultimate, unrelenting Czar (Health Commissioner) powers…and fines you will all receive if you don’t buy EXACTLY what the government tells you that you must buy…
This is the most un-American, Socialist takeover of our lives that I’ve ever seen. We should move to impeach, fire or otherwise immediately remove from office every Senator/Congressperson voting to ram this through against the will or vote of the citizens who pay the taxes.
State Treasurer Tim Cahill, taking swipes at both Gov. Deval Patrick and President Obama, boosted his bipartisan chops yesterday, telling Herald columnist Howie Carr on WRKO, “I voted for John McCain, believe it or not.”
Cahill, saying he was barred from the 2008 Democratic National Convention because he wouldn’t endorse either Obama or Hillary Clinton, said, “My own party basically voted me out.”
“I was afraid of what we had already been getting in Massachusetts, and at that point in 2008, I was aware that it wasn’t working,” he said. Separately yesterday, Cahill accused Obama of “propping up” the Bay State’s health plan with federal aid in order to help push the Democrats’ plan through Congress.
“The real problem is that this . . . sucking sound of money has been going into this health-care reform,” Cahill said. “And I would argue that it’s being propped up so that the federal government and the Obama administration can drive it through.”
Gov. Deval Patrick argues the state’s universal health care program has added 1 percent to the budget, but Cahill said the real impact is buffered by federal dollars.
Meanwhile, Republican Charles Baker’s campaign said Patrick “has consistently failed to address rising health-care costs in Massachusetts.” Baker, the former Harvard Pilgrim CEO, advocated for years for greater transparency on the part of medical service providers.
Cahill called on congressional Democrats yesterday to go “back to the drawing board,” saying he fears they will “bankrupt” the country.
Patrick’s campaign yesterday used Cahill’s health-care smackdown in its latest fund-raising pitch, e-mailing supporters that Cahill “is advocating policies that could put that access, and their health, in jeopardy.” Patrick, whose administration held a hearing on health-care costs yesterday, said exorbitant premium increases and medical service costs need to be curbed through legislation he has proposed.
Well now St. Patrick’s Day wouldn’t exist if not for the man himself! But how much do we know about him? Did you know that he spent six years of slavery in Ireland until he escaped and undertook religious training abroad?
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig is the Gaelic way of expressing a wish that you have all the blessings of St Patrick’s Day and the “luck of the Irish” to go with it. There are many humorous explanations for this expression. One comes from the legend of the ‘Little People’ of the land, know as leprechauns. Finding or catching a leprechaun (who would then give you gold) was a lucky event that could only take place in Ireland ! The Irish are descendants of great Celtic and Viking fighters and invaders. Their natural fighting skills often ensured survival & hence they became known as the ‘lucky’ people .a classic case of making your own luck ! But then “The Luck of the Irish” may all be legend.
Saint Patricks Day Parades Worldwide, Irish Pubs all around the globe, Fun Runs, Irish Associations, Irish Music Festivals, Irish Names, Irish Dancing Schools, Irish Music Irish Roots, Irish Festivals,Scottish Highland Games USA & Canada, as well as, Scottish Pipes & Drum Bands.
St Patricks Day is for thinking about our Saint as well as a time to think of loved ones across the water.
So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.
— The latest outage number is now at 76,000 statewide, with about 61,000 customers without power in Bergen County. Additional outages have been reported throughout the day and evening due to the continuing stormy weather.
— Since the storm began this weekend, PSE&G has restored service to more than 380,000 customers – making this the worst storm in PSE&G history.
— There are also about 3,700 gas customers in Passaic and Somerset counties without service due to flooding. Gas customers will be restored in coordination with municipal inspections as the flood waters recede.
— Crews will continue to work throughout the day and night to restore service. The utility is also getting assistance from utilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania through an arrangement called mutual aid. About 200 workers from AEP and Duquesne Light are helping restore power in hard-hit Bergen towns.
— Based on the extensive damage – especially in Bergen County, PSE&G is estimating that the majority of customers will be restored by Wednesday with the remainder on Thursday.
— Customers can find information on outages, flooding and restoration at https://www.pseg.com/customer/home/safety/outage.jsp.
— Many of the outages are caused by falling trees and limbs, which bring down power lines. Downed wires should always be considered “live.” STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES. Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell PSE&G the nearest cross street.
— To report a power outage, call PSE&G’s Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSEG. Customers who are registered with My Account can also report power outages. To do so, Log In now or register.
— The utility provides electric service to 2.1 million customers and gas service to 1.7 million customers.
>*This article appeared in Detroit News on August 27, 2009.
Michael F. Cannon is director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute and co-author of Healthy Competition: What’s Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It.
If you are curious about how President Barack Obama’s health plan would affect your health care, look no farther than Massachusetts. In 2006, the Bay State enacted a slate of reforms that almost perfectly mirror the plan of Obama and congressional Democrats.
Those reforms reveal that the Obama plan would mean higher health insurance premiums for millions, would reduce choice by eliminating both low-cost and comprehensive health plans, would encourage insurers to avoid the sick and would reduce the quality of care.
Massachusetts reduced its uninsured population by two-thirds — yet the cost would be considered staggering, had state officials not done such a good job of hiding it. Finally, Massachusetts shows where “ObamaCare” would ultimately lead: Officials are already laying the groundwork for government rationing…
The most sweeping provision in the Massachusetts reforms — and the legislation before Congress — is an “individual mandate” that makes health insurance compulsory. Massachusetts shows that such a mandate would oust millions from their low-cost health plans and force them to pay higher premiums.
“The effect,” writes the Boston Globe, “has been to provide more comprehensive insurance than in most other states but also to raise costs.” Premiums are growing 21to 46 percent faster than the national average, in part because Massachusetts’ individual mandate has effectively outlawed affordable health plans.
Over time, as mandates eliminate low-cost options and price controls eliminate comprehensive options, both the Massachusetts and Obama reforms will march consumers into a narrow range of health plans.
As goes choice, so goes quality. Statistics on waiting times for specialist care in Massachusetts read like a dispatch from Canada. In 2004, Boston already had the longest waits among metropolitan areas. By 2009, waits had generally shortened in other metro areas (average wait: less than three weeks) but lengthened in Boston (average wait: seven weeks), according to the Merritt Hawkins survey.
Voters who believe the Massachusetts law reduced the quality of care outnumber those who believe it helped by nearly 3-to-1 (29 percent to 10 percent).
Massachusetts has reduced the share of its population that lacks coverage from an estimated 8.3 percent in 2006 to an estimated 2.6 percent by June 2008. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican who signed the Massachusetts reforms into law, boasts that “no other state has made as much progress in covering their uninsured.”
Yet that achievement carries an exorbitant price tag: at least $2.1 billion this year, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a figure that doesn’t even include the cost of the additional coverage discussed above. Since Massachusetts has covered just 432,000 previously uninsured residents, the cost of covering a previously uninsured family of four — at least $20,000 — is well above the average cost of an employer-sponsored family policy (about $13,000).
>Daylight Saving Time always begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.
This means that, on March 14, 2010, at 2:00 a.m. – you set the clocks ahead one hour.
History of Daylight Savings Time
Although not punctual in the modern sense, ancient civilizations adjusted daily schedules to the sun more flexibly than modern DST does, often dividing daylight into twelve equal hours regardless of day length, so that each daylight hour was longer during summer.[12] For example, Roman water clocks had different scales for different months of the year: at Rome’s latitude the third hour from sunrise, hora tertia, started by modern standards at 09:02 solar time and lasted 44 minutes at the winter solstice, but at the summer solstice it started at 06:58 and lasted 75 minutes.[13] After ancient times, equal-length civil hours eventually supplanted unequal, so civil time no longer varies by season. Unequal hours are still used in a few traditional settings, such as some Mount Athos monasteries[14] and some Jewish ceremonies.[15]
Benjamin Franklin suggested firing cannons at sunrise to waken Parisians.During his time as an American envoy to France, Benjamin Franklin, author of the proverb, “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”, anonymously published a letter suggesting that Parisians economize on candles by rising earlier to use morning sunlight.[16] This 1784 satire proposed taxing shutters, rationing candles, and waking the public by ringing church bells and firing cannons at sunrise.[17] Franklin did not propose DST; like ancient Rome, 18th-century Europe did not keep precise schedules. However, this soon changed as rail and communication networks came to require a standardization of time unknown in Franklin’s day.[18]
