Scientists release study of role of Carbon Dioxide on Climate Change

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H. Leighton Steward, geologist, environmentalist, author, and retired energy industry executive, in an email states, “Following a presentation by myself and ultimately several other scientists that represented both views of the role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in potentially causing catastrophic global warming, a group of the scientists organized a team of voluntary, non-paid scientists to perform an in-depth analysis of the peer reviewed literature and decide for themselves what they believe to be the major cause or even significant causes of global climate change.”

The volunteer group of 20 scientists that have no current ties to any of the energy industries and comprise a uniquely objective and interdisciplinary team, includes members educated in mechanical and electrical engineering, chemistry, geophysics, astrophysics, mathematics, geology and climatology. Several of the members are PhD’s.

“This review began in February of 2012 and the members have used disciplined problem identification and root cause analysis processes, honed from their many years of dealing with life threatening safety issues, notes Steward.

Steward states, “I have been informed that The Right Climate Stuff team is about to release its interim conclusions on Wednesday, January 23rd so to view their report visit www.TheRightClimateStuff.com around mid-morning that day. The results will also be posted on the co2isgreen.org website.

On January 23rd there will be a formal panel discussion at the National Press Club where the team will be represented by team leader, Dr. Harold Doiron. Steward will also be a member of the panel discussion. The intent of the panel is to provide balanced coverage of the discussions on climate change (formerly global warming.

The panel on the broader energy picture begins at 5:30 p.m. EST and the climate panel begins at 7:00 p.m. at the National Press Club, 529 14th St NW. Please come. Herb Hunt and John Hoffmeister will be on the earlier panel.

RELATED COLUMNS:

It’s snowing, and it really feels like the start of a mini ice age

THE CALIFORNIA-CHINA-CO2 CONNECTION

 

Allen West Joins PJ Media: Director of Next Generation Program

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Allan West, former Congressman from Florida, posted this on PJ Media website:

Today I’m excited to announce that I have joined PJ Media, LLC, as director of its Next Generation programming. I am truly honored to be a member of the PJ Media and PJTV team and to continue to be a voice advocating for principled, pragmatic solutions to the issues affecting our constitutional republic.

I enjoyed my time serving as a member of the 112th Congress. However, those who think losing a congressional race defines me and ends my service to my country fail to realize what drives my patriotism and passion for America. True leaders do not need a title, just a conviction, a cause, and the character enabling them to make a stand.

My parents taught me a simple maxim, “A man must stand for something or else he shall fall for anything.” And that is why I took this course for the next phase in my life — to be the leading voice for the Next Generation program, and to stand up for our nation’s future. I know there were so many trying to predict the direction I would take, and one thing everyone needs to recognize is that I do not often do the predictable. PJ Media will give me the freedom to explore a multitude of topics and relate them to our next generation in a non-conventional manner.

When I consider the American dream and how my parents, Herman Sr. and Elizabeth, ensured that I would have the promise of the greatness of America and the opportunities it provides, being with PJTV is the right fit. I now, as a Dad to two wonderful daughters, Aubrey and Austen, must embark upon that which defines the American DNA, making the future better for the next generation than it was for ourselves.

To have been the first black Republican member of Congress from Florida since Josiah T. Walls in the Reconstruction Era was just the dream that my parents, sought and I know they requiem en pace knowing their goal was realized by their son. To have represented the highest-per-capita-income ZIP code in America, a place where when I was born in 1961 my parents could not have visited, truly epitomizes the essence of the “fairness” of America.

No matter where you are born, this country does not limit what you can achieve, and we do not have a system of class or caste.

Click here to learn more about Next Generation with Allen West.

Federal Judge Shoots Down EPA Global Warming Rule

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On Jan. 11, 2013, Judge Ralph Beistline of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska issued a decision striking down the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) final rule designating more than 187,000 square miles of critical habitat for the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The designated area is larger than the state of California.

According to Becky Bohrer from the Huffington Post, “The federal government declared the polar bear threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2008, citing melting sea ice. The move made the polar bear the first species to be designated as threatened under the act because of global warming.”

The designation was challenged by the oil and gas industry, the state of Alaska and by several native Alaskan groups. Although the judge upheld the rule against 10 claims by the plaintiffs, the court found that the agency failed to explain why inclusion of such a large area of critical habitat was justified. The court explained that FWS:

“…cannot designate a large swath of land in northern Alaska as “critical habitat” based entirely on one essential feature that is located in approximately one percent of the area set aside. The Service has not shown and the record does not contain evidence that Unit 2 contains all of the required physical or biological features of terrestrial denning habitat [primary constituent element], and thus the final rule violates the APA’s arbitrary and capricious standard.”

The court also found that FWS failed to follow applicable procedures under the ESA by not providing the state of Alaska with adequate justification for not incorporating the state’s comments into the final rule. As a result of the decision, the critical habitat rule was remanded to the agency for further consideration.

Bohrer reports, “U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said [Judge] Beistline made the right decision, calling the bear populations ‘abundant and healthy’.”

“The only real impact of the designation would have been to make life more difficult for the residents of North Slope communities, and make any kind of economic development more difficult or even impossible,” Murkowsky said in a statement.

Zero Dark Thirty is a Must See Film

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If there is one film you decide to see this year it is Zero Dark Thirty. This film is the closest to the realities of steps needed to protect Americans from the threat of radical Islam.

The best analysis of the film was done by Shane Harris from the Washingtonian. Harris writes, “For a moment, put aside the important and probably irresolvable debate over torture that has been generated by the new film Zero Dark Thirty…”.

“While the film does not advocate torture, the filmmakers undoubtedly make the argument that brutal and sustained interrogations of suspected terrorists produced useful, maybe even crucial intelligence that led the CIA to Osama bin Laden’s doorstep in Pakistan. This is an assertion that the director and screenwriter have backed away from while promoting their Oscar-buzzed movie, perhaps so not to further enrage critics and a few lawmakers who say Zero Dark Thirty describes torture as the key to the CIA’s decade-long hunt,” reports Harris.

Perhaps it is time to rethink the use of enhanced interrogation techniques given the recent events in Algeria?

Watch the trailer:

“Zero Dark Thirty is one of the most accurate depictions of intelligence work that I’ve ever seen in film. And of intelligence analysis in particular. This is pain-staking stuff. Slow-going. Often frustrated by a paucity of leads, by competing priorities, and by physical exhaustion. The movie’s protagonist, Maya, who is based on a real-life CIA officer, can think of nothing else but getting bin Laden,” notes  Harris.

I must agree totally.

Report: Florida’s Broken Campaign Finance System

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Integrity Florida has released its report on Florida’s campaign finance system. During testimony before the Florida House of Representatives Ethics & Elections Subcommittee Dan Krassner and Ben Wilcox stated, “Currently, Florida law limits direct contributions to candidates to $500 per contributor per election cycle, but clearly there are glaring loopholes to these limits.  Nearly seventy-five percent of all of the money raised in the 2012 election cycle avoided candidate accounts and instead flowed through ‘so-called’ independent committees and political parties based on Integrity Florida analysis of state-level campaign contribution data from the Florida Division of Elections database.”

“Because some of the money is transferred from a CCE to an ECO or PC — often in a veiled attempt to shield the donor and recipient from the disclosure — some of the contributions are double counted.  With several types of funding vehicles allowing unlimited contributions, it is time to admit that donation limits are not stopping any contributors from spending unlimited amounts of money, ” noted Krassner and Wilcox.

The report points out that from 1981 to 1990, there were 340 federal public corruption convictions by United States Attorneys’ Offices of Florida officials, according to U.S. Department of Justice data.  That number more than doubled between 1991 and 2000 reaching 715 convictions and dropped just slightly between 2001 and 2010 to 674.

Read the full report and it recommendations:

Florida’s Broken Campaign Finance System -Integrity Florida Report to the Florida House of Representatives… by

Is Any E-Verify Bill Dead on Arrival in the Florida Senate?

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In 2010 Republican Jeff Atwater was the President of the Florida Senate. When the committee assignments were made he appointed Senator Jeremy Ring, a progressive Democrat, to be Committee Chair of  The Government Oversight & Accounting Committee. Then as now Republicans had an overwhelming majority in both legislative houses.

George Fuller wrote in an email, “On the surface it would appear to the average citizen Atwater was extending his hand for a truly bi-partisan Florida Senate. However, Atwater may have had a more sinister reason for making the appointment. The reason was he wanted a Democrat to block any immigration bill filed so his hands would remain clean as it was blocked in committee.”

As the story unfolded in 2010 Senator Nancy Detert filed S1880 an immigration bill that would require all contractors with the state to be enrolled in the Federal E-Verify program so only legal workers would participate in taxpayer funded projects. What citizen would not want every dime of their tax money to go to legal contract workers instead of to illegal aliens who would head to Western Union every payday and ship the money out of the country especially during the high unemployment being experienced in the state in 2010?

Well, after Senator Detert filed the bill it was assigned to 5 committees to go through before it would reach the senate floor.

Fuller states, “I have researched hundreds of bills filed in the legislature and those with 5 committee assignments never get through all the committees in 8 weeks time which is how long the session is. Looking at the bill assignments those familiar with the process knew the chance of getting through all of the committees in the allotted time was slim.”

“But Senate President Atwater was not satisfied with 98% odds the bill would not get through all the committees and that is where Senate Chair Jeremy Ring of the Government Oversight and Accounting came into play. The first committee assignment for S1880 was Democrat Jeremy Ring’s committee. Needless to say the other four committees were not required to impede the bill’s progress through the system since Ring never called up the bill during the session,” notes Fuller

Now we fast forward to 2013 and the incoming Senate President is Republican Don Gaetz. Who did he name Chairman of the Government Oversight and Accounting Committee? Answer: Jeremy Ring.

But it gets worse says Fuller. Senate President Gaetz also appointed Democrat Senator Bill Montford to Chair the Agricultural Committee with Democrat Senator Dwight Bullard as Vice Chair and Democrat Senator Elanor Sobel as Chair of  the Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee. One wonders how Republicans feel about this form of bi-partisanship?

Today Jeff Atwater is Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. It makes one wonder what higher office is in store for Senator Gaetz.

EDITORS NOTE:

The table below shows that legal immigration is simply a conduit for importing poverty into Florida. The legislature will never solve or reduce the poverty level in Florida with the same immigration policy of “Family Reunification.”

Click on the chart for a larger view.

 

Rep. Buchanan (FL-16) Sends Letter to WH Opposing Hagel Appointment

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Representative Vern Buchanan, FL CD-16, sent the below letter to President Obama expressing concern over his nomination of former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel as the next Secretary of Defense.  Buchanan stated, “I simply cannot support someone whose commitment to Israel remains a disturbing question mark.”

Mark Landler from the New York Times wrote, “Mr. Hagel, a Republican, has been skeptical about the efficacy of American sanctions against Iran, has opposed efforts to isolate militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and has spoken candidly about the influence of what he once referred to as the “Jewish lobby” on Capitol Hill.”

January 07, 2012

The Honorable Barack Obama
President
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC  20500

Dear President Obama:

I am writing to express my deep concern over your selection of Chuck Hagel as your nominee for Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Hagel is an honorable man who has served his country with distinction. However, his track record on foreign policy leads me to believe he is not the best person to assume this critical post.

Specifically, Mr. Hagel’s commitment to Israel, our most trusted ally in the Middle East, remains a disturbing question mark.  As the co-chair of your intelligence advisory board, Mr. Hagel has said the U.S. should open discussions with Hamas, a terrorist group that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist.

Mr. Hagel has also repeatedly voted against sanctions on Iran, even opposing sanctions aimed at the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.  Furthermore, he wrote that “the genie of nuclear weapons is already out of the bottle, no matter what Iran does.” I find his indifference to Iran possessing nuclear capabilities alarming and dangerous.

Please remember that the Iranian regime has stated its desire to wipe Israel off the map.  Let me also remind you that Iran has armed and funded Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militant groups opposed to Israel’s existence.

We live in a dangerous world and the defense secretary is a key person to protecting Americans at home and abroad. I urge you to please reconsider your nomination.

Sincerely,

Vern Buchanan
Member of Congress

Florida: Trial opens of Imams accused of funneling money to Taliban

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“Prosecutors portray South Florida Muslim clerics as terrorist supporters in federal trial,” by Jay Weaver for the Miami Herald:

Hafiz Khan, a hunched man with a flowing white beard, was called the “Santa Claus imam” by the youngsters who attended his modest Flagler Mosque in Miami.But on Friday, a federal prosecutor portrayed the 77-year-old Muslim cleric as an evil man who spewed hateful words about his adopted country and funneled at least $50,000 to support the Pakistani Taliban terrorist organization in violent attacks against U.S. interests overseas.

His goal, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley said in opening statements of Khan’s terrorism trial, was to help arm the Taliban militants with weapons for their mission to topple the Pakistan government and carry out terrorist attacks against the U.S. military abroad.

“This is no man of peace,” Shipley told the 12-person federal jury Friday. “This is not a religious leader that any of you would respect.’’

Khan and his 26-year old son, Izhar Khan, a Muslim scholar who served as imam of a mosque in Margate, are standing trial on charges of conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists. Both imams, who have been detained without bail since their arrests in 2011, say their financial support was intended not for terrorists, but for relatives, friends and school children in Pakistan who have struggled for survival. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Charges were dismissed last year against another son, Irfan Khan, because of a lack of evidence. Two other Khan family members charged in the case, Amina Khan, a daughter, and Alam Zeb, her son, are in Pakistan. Another defendant, Ali Rehman, accused of distributing Hafiz Khan’s funds to the Taliban, is also in Pakistan.

The FBI investigation, launched in early 2009, was built on recordings of Hafiz Khan’s phone conversations, a confidential informant who infiltrated Khan’s mosque, and Khan’s bank records in South Florida and Pakistan.

Hafiz Khan’s attorney, Khurrum Wahid, said in opening statements that prosecutors have created a “caricature” of his client, asserting that his words were “hyperbole” and “contrary” to the Taliban’s violent campaign. Wahid said his client was driven by a “love” for the people in the Swat Valley region of Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border, where he was born and raised before becoming a Muslim leader and founder of a madrassa religious school.

“You’re going to hear he loved helping the poor and needy,” Wahid told jurors. “You’re going to hear he’s not pro-Taliban. In fact, it’s quite the contrary. … You’re going to hearing of no evidence that the money went for guns. …You’re going to hear it was for the madrassa, the love of his life.”

Click here to read the full Miami Herald story.

RUBIO: THE REAL FISCAL CLIFF IS OUR UNSUSTAINABLE LEVEL OF DEBT

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Excerpts from Senator Marco Rubio on The Sean Hannity Show January 2, 2013

RUBIO: This was not a fiscal cliff. The real fiscal cliff is the fact that the middle class is not growing, the economy is not growing and our country continues to owe more money than our economy produces every single year. I mean our debt’s $16 trillion, our economy does – produces less than that every single year. So think about it, our debt is now larger than our economy. And the fundamental issue before us is how can we get the middle class growing again, how can we get the economy growing again, and how can we bring the debt under control which is one of the reasons why the economy and jobs aren’t growing. And this bill [has] nothing to do with that. Now look, I appreciate the hard work that went into it and that the folks that worked on it were trying to make the best of a tough situation where taxes were going to go up automatically anyway but I just continue to get frustrated that we’re always being given false choices to vote on here. And- and I just, you know I – we’re going to be right back at this in two months when the debt limit issue comes up.

HANNITY: Well, you know I used the analogy earlier today: this is the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gun wound and the Band-Aid was infected. You know, it just seems that bad to me. Is there any cutting in this at all, because if you read the CBO numbers, and I know some conservatives don’t agree with them, that this fiscal cliff deal is going to add $4 trillion to the deficit compared to current law? Now I know they include tax cuts as lowering income to the government, but is that about right?

RUBIO: Well it is, and obviously, and now we get real technical on it, it depends on which baseline you’re using to compare it from. Were you assuming the tax cuts were going to go away? Were you assuming they were going to stay in place? Are you assuming the sequester is going to go in in two months? So there’s a lot of assumptions still … Here’s a better way to understand it, you know, our economy today is headed toward an unsustainable level of debt, I mean at 22 – 23 trillion before the end of the next four years. And what’s driving that – the single greatest thing that’s driving that, it’s not foreign aid and discretionary spending, it’s the entitlement programs, in particular medicare, which is going bankrupt and needs to be saved. And the longer we wait to deal with that the harder it’s going to be to fix this and more disruptive it’s going to be to fix it.

Time to Privatize Florida’s Libraries

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In September 2004 a report was published titled “Taxpayer Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries: Summary Report“. The survey based report done by the University of Pennsylvania states, “In 2003-4, an estimated 11.8 million people visited Florida public libraries in person.  Adult Florida residents form the majority of visitors, but tourists form a surprising 29 percent of in-person visitors to the libraries, although they account for only 5 percent of visits as they tend to visit just once. Over half of Florida’s adult resident population and over a third of all Florida children make in-person visits to Florida’s public libraries.  Approximately 13 percent of adult Florida residents and an unknown number of Florida children connect via the Internet to the public library.”

The report justifies taxpayer financed public libraries.

Recent experiences with privatized libraries may make the findings of this report null and void. Scott Reeder from Watchdog.org writes, “Public libraries are near sacred institutions in our communities but in a time of escalating municipal debt they have become increasingly vulnerable as local governments look for places to cut. A common refrain among municipal officials is: How can the same of service be offered for less money?”

“A smattering of cities across the nation has turned to private firms as a solution. The results are intriguing,” states Reeder.

Reeder found, “Santa Clarita, Calif., saw its annual cost to operate a public library drop from $6.2 million per year to $4.2 million when they hired a private firm rather than have public employees operate the city’s three libraries, said Darren Hernandez, the city’s deputy city manager. Before a private firm took over day-to-day operations, Santa Clarita’s three libraries were operated by the Los Angeles County Library system.”

Reeder reports that during the first two years of the public/private partnership, significant improvements in service were experienced:

  • The materials budget – for books, magazines and other items – has expanded almost 10-fold to $2 million annually.
  • Library operating hours have more than doubled.
  • Circulation of library materials has increased 15 percent.
  • Participation in library-sponsored events such as children’s reading programs has increased.

This all occurred because the City of Santa Clarita did not have to pay the pensions of librarians. Reeder reports, “By hiring a private firm, the city was able to avoid paying public pensions to library workers, [Santa Clarita City Manager] Hernandez said. He added that California public employees have some of the most generous pensions in the nation.”

Given the growing pressure on the Florida legislature to find savings, perhaps it is time to look at the Santa Clarita experience. Taxpayer funded libraries may be found at the city, county, school board and state college/university levels throughout Florida.

A new look at privatization may be in order.

Indian River Pulls out of Florida Seven/50 Project

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Following a lengthy session of public comment and discussion, the Indian River County Commission in Vero Beach, FL voted 4-1 in favor of removing the county from the Seven/50 project which is a seven county, fifty year sustainability initiative. Commissioners Solari, Davis, Flescher and Zorc voted to remove the county from the project.

The vote was a direct result of the work of the Indian River TEA Party and concerned citizens educating friends, family members and neighbors on the dangers of regionalization and sustainability initiatives especially in regard to the infringement on the property rights of individuals.

According to Danita Killcullen, “The task force meeting I attended was frightening, with Kristin Jacobs as Chair with the Republican Mayor of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, who I’ve known for several years, seated at her right.  At the end of the meeting I asked Mayor Rosanne Minnet if she agrees with all we saw and heard today and her answer was, ‘Oh, yes… It’s happening right now!’ They are very far ahead of us and we have much ground to make-up.”

The Indian River TEA Party in an email states, “It is our hope that this one vote will be a shot heard nationwide as similar initiatives are either in place or are planned for communities in every state. Much work lies ahead in balancing the need to maintain our natural resources while upholding the individual liberties we hold dear. To that end, please consider becoming a more active part of your local government as we believe our elected officials truly desire increased public involvement. ”

“The vote today affects the unincorporated areas of Indian River County only and not the City of Vero Beach, Sebastian or other townships. These communities will remain a part of the Seven/50 project unless residents speak out and ask their leaders to follow the lead of Indian River County,” notes the Indian River TEA Party board of directors.

To learn more about the history and intent of “sustainable development” click here.

The MEMRI Top 10 Clips from Arab and Iranian TV

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The MEMRI TV Project maintains the world’s largest archives of footage translated from Arab and Iranian television. This project has so far produced over 3,600 translated clips – the largest such archives in the world.  MEMRI TV is viewed in 195 countries around the world, and monitors over 100 channels from Iran and the Arab world.

The Top 10 Clips

  1. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3374
    Director of London-Based Institute of Islamic Political Thought Azzam Al-Tamimi Advises Arab TV Channels to Be Careful about Using the Term “Jews” and Denying the Holocaust because MEMRI Is Lying in Wait
    Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas/Gaza) – March 15, 2012
  2. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3446
    Saudi Woman To Members of the Religious Police Who Harass Her for Wearing Nail Polish: This Is None of Your Business, I Am a Free Woman and Will Expose You on Twitter and Facebook
    The Internet – May 23, 2012
  3. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3517
    Hizbullah’s Al-Manar TV after Google and Apple Banned Its Apps: We Will Find Other Ways to Deliver “Message of Resistance”
    Al-Manar TV (Lebanon) – August 2, 2012
  4. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3614
    Egyptian President Morsi Joins Preacher in Prayer for Dispersal of the Jews
    Channel 1 (Egypt) – October 19, 2012
  5. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3325
    Saudi Scholar ‘Aql Al-Bahili: “The Freedom Enjoyed in the West is a Hundred Times Better than in Islamic Countries”
    Daleel TV (Saudi Arabia) – February 3, 2012
  6. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3578
    Benghazi Friday Sermon Preacher, in Wake of Killing of US Ambassador, Calls to “Detonate Our Wrath upon Them” and “Stab Them in Their Main Artery” – the Economy
    Libya Al-Hurra TV (Libya) – September 14, 2012
  7. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3573
    Hizbullah TV Honors French Holocaust Denier Roger Garaudy in Ceremony for Outstanding Students
    Al-Manar TV (Lebanon) – August 29, 2012
  8. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3631
    Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Munajid: Hurricane Sandy Is Allah’s Punishment for Afghanistan and Iraq
    Al-Nas TV (Egypt) – November 1, 2012
  9. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3584
    IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Hajizadeh: An Attack on Iran Will Lead to World War III; We Will Attack US Bases
    Al-Alam TV (Iran) – September 23, 2012
  10. MEMRI TV Clip No. 3674
    Pakistani Model and Actress Veena Malik in Support of Gay Rights
    The Internet, Geo News (Pakistan) – October 14, 2012

 To donate to MEMRI please click here.

 

What is good for the goose is good for the gander?

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After the White Plains Journal-News posted a list of gun owners, the personal information of the Publisher, Editor and staff is circulating on the internet. WDW has tried to contact staff for a statement on this turn of events. For example, the following is posted on the For What its Worth blog:

Reader “Jeff” sends along a link to the latest article in the White Plains tabloid, Journal-News, reporting on the hornets nest occasioned by their publication of an interactive map showing the identity and address of all registered gun owners in Westchester County and surrounding areas.

Cyndee Royle

Editor Cyndee Royle (pictured right) defends her decision and in fact sounds quite smug about it. Her paper is apparently still trying to obtain, and publish, information on how many guns, and their type, are registered to each owner, presumably to make shopping easier for gun thieves. Nothing more disappointing than getting a Remington 870 when you’ve been hoping for a Ruger Mini Thirty.

Let’s keep those cards and letters (and telephone calls, of course) coming.

EDITOR: 

Miss Royle’s married name is Lambert. She lives in White Plains and here is her Facebook page complete with pictures of her and her kids. Hello Sanctimony.
http://www.facebook.com/CynDeeRoyle

Cynthia R. Lambert
17 Mcbride Ave
White Plains, NY 10603

Work: 914-694-5001

croyle@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/croyle1
https://www.facebook.com/cyndee.royle.7
https://www.facebook.com/CynDeeRoyle
Drives a red convertible:http://s13.postimage.org/k8ffnxuo7/cyndee_royle_aka_cynthia_lambert_red_convertible.jpg
Family photo: http://s7.postimage.org/dkqtytvyj/cyndee_royle_aka_cynthia_lambert_fb_alt_private.jpg

Publisher – Janet Hasson

3 Gate House Lane, Mamaroneck NY, 10543

@janhasson on twitter

(914) 694-5204

Reporter – Dwight R. Worley

23006 139 Ave

Springfield Gardens, NY 11413

(718) 527-0832

The “Visual Editor” responsible for the map itself is:

Robert F. Rodriguez

(w) Stephanie Azzarone
Home (212) 222-4566
420 Riverside Dr, Apt 7A
New York, NY 10025-7748

GANNET CEO:

Gracia C Martore 728 Springvale Rd Great Falls, VA 22066 (703) 759-5954

STAFF MEMBERS:

–(Junior Editor) Nancy Cutler 9 Woodwind Ln, Spring Valley, NY. (845) 354 3485

Barbara Livingstone Nackman a Reporter on the municipal beat can be found here:
Barbara L Nackman
279 Farrington Ave
Tarrytown, NY 10591

(914) 332-5185

Swapna Venugopal Also a Reporter and can be found on
http://www.facebook.com/swapna.venugopal.14
306 Quaker Rd
Chappaqua, NY 10514

(914) 238-4607

Mike Risinit
Michael J Risinit
http://www.facebook.com/michael.risinit/info
42 Robinson Ln
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 (845) 454-2278

Seth Harrison
http://www.facebook.com/seth.harrison.391
107 Valleyview Rd
Irvington, NY 10533

(914) 231-5411

OTHER STAFF

Albert Conte
Photo reprints
Work: 914-696-8401
aconte@lohud.com

Anjanette Delgado
Community Conversation (Forums, Blogs, Social Media)
Work: 914-694-5072
adelgado@lohud.com

Brian Howard
Social Media Editor at The Journal News
bhoward@lohud.com
Work: 914-666-6177
https://www.facebook.com/HowardBrianJ

Carrie Yale
Visuals Director at The Journal News
Photography (Days)
cyale@lohud.com
Work: 914-694-5092
https://twitter.com/carrieyale
https://www.facebook.com/carrie.yale.7

Caryn McBride
Print and digital news editor, award-winning journalist
Editor at The Journal News
Westchester County, NY
Work: 845-578-2434
camcbride@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/RocklandEditor
https://www.facebook.com/CarynAMcBride

Cathey O’Donnell
Journal News reporter in NY covering Westchester, Rockland and Putnam
White Plains http://loud.com
Investigative Reporter at The Journal News
https://twitter.com/catheyodonnell
https://www.facebook.com/cathey.odonnell.7

Chris Brown
Graphics Artist at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/chris.brown.108

Chris Gaughan
Works at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/cgaughan1

Dan Donovan
Comics, crosswords, Jumble, Sudoku, movie clock
Work: 914-694-5309
djdonova@lohud.com

David McKay Wilson
@davidmckay415
Columnist at The Journal News, freelance journalist, cycling advocate
Mahopac, NY
https://twitter.com/davidmckay415
https://www.facebook.com/davidmckaywilson

Ed Cummins
News Editor at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/ed.cummins.54

Ed Forbes
Digital Team/Homepage
“Ed Forbes, a @StLawrenceU and @columbiajourn alum, is the Digital Editor at The Journal News and LoHud.com. Westchester resident, N.J. native, Ad’k expat.”
Lives in Mount Kisco, New York
From Randolph, New Jersey
Columbia, St. Lawrence
Work: 914-696-8488
eforbes@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/edforbes
https://www.facebook.com/ed.forbes

Gary McGriff
Works at The Journal News
https://www.facebook.com/gary.mcgriff

George Troyano
Vice President Sales & Marketing at Journal News Media-Gannett
Studied Marketing at Drexel University
Work: 914-694-5157
gtroyano@lohud.com
https://www.facebook.com/george.troyano

Heather Salerno
New York-based journalist, wife and mom
Works at Feature writer for the Journal News
Studied at Georgetown University
https://twitter.com/heather_salerno
https://www.facebook.com/heather.salerno.7

Herb Pinder
Community Conversation / Opinion Page editor at The Journal News and LoHud.com
Westchester
Work: 914-694-5031
hpinder@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/herbpinderNY

James Kwasnik
Online Director at The Journal News, Technology/Analytics Editor
Work: 914-694-5172
jkwasnik@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/schmooze
https://www.facebook.com/jameskwasnik

Jill Mercadante
Multimedia/Marketing Editor at The Journal News
https://twitter.com/tumbling_after
https://www.facebook.com/jill.mercadante

Joe McDonald
Local News, Local Content Editor
Work: 914-694-5099
jmcdona@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/joemcd1973

Karen Croke
LoHud Weekend
Work: 914-696-8267
kcroke1@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/KarenCroke
https://twitter.com/livinghereNY
“Yolo!”

Kathy Moore
Local Content Editor
Work: 914-694-3523
kjmoore@lohud.com

Ken Valenti
“I’m a transportation reporter for The Journal News/lohud.com”
White Plains, Westchester, NY
https://twitter.com/lohudgoing
https://twitter.com/NewRoKen
https://www.facebook.com/ken.valenti

Linda Lombroso
Features Writer at The Journal News
https://twitter.com/LindaLombroso
https://www.facebook.com/lindalombroso

Leah Rae
Journalist in Westchester County, N.Y., following local news, immigration trends, and cool maps.
https://twitter.com/LeahRaeNY
https://www.facebook.com/leah.rae.33

Lee Higgins
Breaking news reporter for http://lohud.com
lhiggins2@lohud.com
Work: 914-696-8570
https://twitter.com/LeeHiggins

Liz Johnson
Food editor at The Journal News and LoHud.com in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam. Eater, drinker, gardener.
Lower Hudson Valley
Work: 914-694-5075
ewjohnson@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/small_bites
https://www.facebook.com/sourcherryfarm

Mary Dolan
Deputy Managing Editor, Features editor The Journal News/LoHud.com
White Plains
Work: 914-694-5230
mdolan@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/featuresed

Mike Meaney
Morning breaking news
Work: 914-696-8565
mmeaney@lohud.com

Nancy Cutler
Opinion editor, Rockland, The Journal News/LoHud.com
Rockland County, NY
Work: 845-578-2403
ncutler@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/nancyrockland

Nights, weekends, holidays and news tips: 914-694-5077

Phil Reisman
Columnist for The Journal News/Lohud.com
Westchester, NY
https://twitter.com/philreisman
https://www.facebook.com/phil.reisman

Robert F. Rodriguez
Visuals Editor / Photo Editor at The Journal News
Photography, Nights
Studied at NYU
Lives in New York, New York
Married to Stephanie Azzarone
Work: 914-694-5092
rrodrigu@lohud.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1522994678

Sean Mayer
Sports and Operations Editor for the Journal News Media Group.
Studied at Binghamton University
Married to Randi Kravetsky-Mayer
From Monroe, New York
smayer@lohud.com
Work: 914-696-8527
https://twitter.com/scoopmayer35
https://www.facebook.com/sean.mayer

Swapna Venugopal
Reporter, The Journal News at Gannett
Staff Writer,The Journal News/LoHud.com.
Write about politics, development issues and life in Westchester County, New York
Studied at New York University
Lives in Chappaqua, New York
From Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Work: 914-696-8229
svenugop@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/SwapnaVenugopal
https://www.facebook.com/swapna.venugopal.14

Thane Grauel
Local Editor Rockland/Digital Editor at The Journal News
Norwalk, Conn
https://twitter.com/thaneg
https://www.facebook.com/swapna.venugopal.14

Theresa Juva-Brown
Reporter at The Journal News
“Transportation/TZB reporter for The Journal News/LoHud.com. Reach me at tjuva@lohud.comwith tips/story ideas. I love hearing from readers/riders/drivers.”
White Plains, NY
Studied at Syracuse University
From Queens, New York
tjuva@lohud.com
https://twitter.com/TJuva
https://www.facebook.com/theresa.juvabrown

Contact Us

The Journal News and LoHud.com

Main Office:
The Journal News
1133 Westchester Ave.
Suite N110
White Plains, NY 10604

Main phone number: 914-694-9300
Report breaking news: 914-694-5077
E-mail breaking news: metro@lohud.com
Lobby Hours:
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. – open for visitors
Closed Saturday and Sunday

Home Delivery Operations Manager: John Czarnecki, 914-696-8540, jczarnec@lohud.com
Director/Circulation Operations: Elaine Kirsch, 914-696-8511, ekirsch@lohud.com
Single Copy Manager: Mauro Ferrotta, 914-694-5233, mferrott@lohud.com

News Managers:

Sound Shore: Liz Anderson, 914-696-8538, ecanders@lohud.com
White Plains: Scott Faubel, 914-696-8569, sfaubel@lohud.com
Northern Westchester: Robert Brum, 914-666-6579, rbrum@lohud.com
Yorktown-Cortlandt: Robert Brum, 914-666-6579, rbrum@lohud.com
Putnam: Robert Brum, 914-666-6579, rbrum@lohud.com
Rockland: Nicole Futterman, 845-578-2408, nfutterm@lohud.com

Advertising:

Online Ad Director: Eileen Zaccagnino, 914-696-8463, ezaccagn@lohud.com
Director, Marketing and Client Solutions: Tessa Garcia, 914-694-5188, tagarcia1@lohud.com

The 10 Worst Regulations of 2012

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The Heritage Foundation published its 10 worst regulations of 2012. Here they are:

1. HHS’s Contraception Mandate

The Department of Health and Human Services on February 15 finalized its mandate that all health insurance plans include coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization procedures, and contraceptives. To date, 42 cases with more than 110 plaintiffs are challenging this restriction on religious liberty.

2. EPA Emissions Standards

The EPA in February finalized strict new emissions standards for coal- and oil-fired electric utilities. The benefits are highly questionable, with the vast majority being unrelated to the emissions targeted by the regulation. The costs, however, are certain: an estimated $9.6 billion annually.

3. Fuel Efficiency Standards

In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in tandem with the Environmental Protection Agency, finalized fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2017–2025. The rules require a whopping average fuel economy of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Sticker prices will jump by hundreds of dollars.

4. New York’s 16-Ounce Soda Limit

Not all regulations come from Washington. On September 13, at the behest of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the New York City Board of Health banned the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces.

5. Dishwasher Efficiency Standards

Regulators admit that these Department of Energy rules will do little to improve the environment. Rather, proponents claim they will save consumers money. But they will also increase the price of dishwashers, and only about one in six consumers will keep his or her dishwasher long enough to recoup the cost.

6. School Lunch Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in January published stringent nutrition standards for school lunch and breakfast programs. More than 98,000 elementary and secondary schools are affected—at a cost exceeding $3.4 billion over the next four years.

7. Quickie Union Election Rule

In April, the National Labor Relations Board issued new rules that shorten the time allowed for union-organizing elections to between 10 and 21 days. This leaves little time for employees to make a fully informed choice on unionizing, threatening to leave workers and management alike under unwanted union regimes.

8. Essential Benefits Rule

Under Obamacare, insurers in the individual and small group markets will be forced to cover services that the government deems to be essential. Published on November 26, the HHS list of very broad benefits has created enormous uncertainty about the extent of essential treatment.

9. Electronic Data Recorder Mandate

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on December 13 issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to mandate installation of electronic data recorders, popularly known as “black boxes,” in most light vehicles starting in 2014. The government mandate understandably spooks privacy advocates.

10. “Simplified” Mortgage Disclosure and Servicing Rules

In July, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released its proposal for a more “consumer friendly” mortgage process, with a stated goal of simplifying home loans. The rules run an astonishing 1,099 pages. Then, one month later, the bureau proposed more than 560 pages of rules for mortgage servicing.

According to the Heritage Foundation, “It seems that no aspect of American life can escape government regulation. In the past year, regulators drafted rules that addressed everything from caloric intake to dishwasher efficiency.”

“Most of these rules increase the cost of living, others hinder job creation, and many erode freedom. Not all regulations are unwarranted, of course, but increasingly, the rules imposed by the government have less to do with health and safety and more to do with whether government or individuals get to make basic pocketbook and lifestyle decisions that affect them. And it is not just the regulators who are to blame. Congress writes laws that give unelected bureaucrats the broad powers they wield,” warns the Foundation.

Simon Wiesenthal Center 2012 List of Top 10 Antisemites

/in , /by

The Muslim Brotherhood won a dubious prize on Friday, coming in at the top of a list of 2012’s worst antisemites and Israel-haters compiled by the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

Noting that the Brotherhood now “effectively rules the Arab world’s largest and most important nation,” the Center gave the group the number one spot, quoting its “moral guide” as saying the Jews have dominated the land, spread corruption on earth, spilled the blood of believers and in their actions profaned holy places.”

Coming a close second was the “Iranian regime” and its genocidal president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; followed by an antisemitic Brazilian cartoonist, European soccer fans, and a Ukrainian antisemitic political party.

Worrisome new arrivals were numbers 6 and 7: The Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn and the Hungarian Jobbik party, both of which indicate a renaissance of antisemitism on the European Right. Feeding off the economic troubles of the continent, both parties met with surprising electoral success over the past year.

Indeed, one of the most disturbing aspects of the list is its plethora of newcomers. Only one usual suspect appears, dead last at number 10: The American demagogue Louis Farrakhan.