Early last evening, I sat down to about an hour of news TV to catch the results of the U.S. Senate’s questioning of General Petraeus about the impact of the recent troop surge in Iraq and of his related recommendations. I was appalled at the conduct of some of the senators. It outraged me that these politicians would use a national forum on a day like 9/11 to inflate their political and presidential ambitions by treating one of America’s finest soldiers with such impunity and indignity.
Except for perhaps less than a handful of senators on the panel, not a one is qualified to even tie the shoelaces on the boots of such a distinguished American warrior as General Petraeus.
Don’t misunderstand me about what’s happened in Iraq: I think that President Bush grossly misunderstood and miscalculated the nature of the conflict in the Middle East. He never wrapped his mind early enough around the intense tribal and religious distrust between Iraqi Sunnis and Shi‘as. But so has today’s cadre of irresponsible senators who, on the platform offered by 9/11, used it to bloviate incessantly to the tune of their own voices.
Yesterday, the elected officials who spoke eloquently at Bridgewater’s 9/11 commemoration ceremony outside the municipal complex, honored the dead of the Twin Towers, their families and survivors, and America’s military personnel. Flannery, Bateman and Ferguson did not use the occasion of this solemn day, as did senators in Washington, to sully the national honor with pointless, obtuse accusations.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A Soggy 9/11
At the first remembrance ceremony which I attended at 8:46 am today in Somerville, Robert Zaborowski, Somerville County Freeholder Director, holding back emotion, made a brief announcement at the memorial and clock tower near the courthouse, prior to the tolling of the bell in memory of those from our county who lost their lives on this fateful day 6 years ago.
One unanticipated personal tribute was that of a woman who, after the official ceremony was over, walked to the tower, rested her outstretched arm against one of its columns, and held that position for a few moments with her head bowed. As she walked away, I thought that I recognized her simply as “Judy,” the person who is behind the counter at Shanahan’s Stationery in downtown Somerville.
Later, at 12:00 noon, outside the Bridgewater Municipal Building, several tents were in place to shield the dignitaries and Bridgewater family members who suffered losses on that fateful day.
Almost as if on command, the skies emptied torrents of rain on those assembled. Most were not under cover. A line of umbrella-wielding people stood in front of the building, while others managed with only raingear as protection. A brave law enforcement honor guard stood in mute attention the whole time, in columns six across and four deep, as the rain completely soaked their uniforms.
Bridgewater Mayor, Patricia Flannery, stepped to the lectern for a short statement and presented Rabbi Ron Isaacs of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater for the introductory prayer. The mayor herself; NJ Assemblyman, Kip Bateman; as well as Congressman Mike Ferguson, addressed the crowd with brief but significant patriotic messages about the meaning of 9/11, our troops in Iraq, and for the need never to forget. Bridgewater Councilman Howard Norgalis, who is also a fire commissioner read A Fireman’s Prayer.
The wreath-laying ceremony took place at the height of the storm, with the mayor under cover of an umbrella, as she quickly scuttled across the lawn and back to the protection of the tent.
I was buoyed by the fact that here, in Bridgewater, we can still proudly and publicly recite the unaltered pledge of allegiance, have a Rabbi offer a prayer at an official ceremony, and hear a bagpipe-playing officer render the beautiful sounds of “Amazing Grace” rising up during a torrential downpour.
One unanticipated personal tribute was that of a woman who, after the official ceremony was over, walked to the tower, rested her outstretched arm against one of its columns, and held that position for a few moments with her head bowed. As she walked away, I thought that I recognized her simply as “Judy,” the person who is behind the counter at Shanahan’s Stationery in downtown Somerville.
Later, at 12:00 noon, outside the Bridgewater Municipal Building, several tents were in place to shield the dignitaries and Bridgewater family members who suffered losses on that fateful day.
Almost as if on command, the skies emptied torrents of rain on those assembled. Most were not under cover. A line of umbrella-wielding people stood in front of the building, while others managed with only raingear as protection. A brave law enforcement honor guard stood in mute attention the whole time, in columns six across and four deep, as the rain completely soaked their uniforms.
Bridgewater Mayor, Patricia Flannery, stepped to the lectern for a short statement and presented Rabbi Ron Isaacs of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater for the introductory prayer. The mayor herself; NJ Assemblyman, Kip Bateman; as well as Congressman Mike Ferguson, addressed the crowd with brief but significant patriotic messages about the meaning of 9/11, our troops in Iraq, and for the need never to forget. Bridgewater Councilman Howard Norgalis, who is also a fire commissioner read A Fireman’s Prayer.
The wreath-laying ceremony took place at the height of the storm, with the mayor under cover of an umbrella, as she quickly scuttled across the lawn and back to the protection of the tent.
I was buoyed by the fact that here, in Bridgewater, we can still proudly and publicly recite the unaltered pledge of allegiance, have a Rabbi offer a prayer at an official ceremony, and hear a bagpipe-playing officer render the beautiful sounds of “Amazing Grace” rising up during a torrential downpour.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Campaigning on Polhemus Lane
Stuff had to go, and we didn’t have any place to dispose of it -- too big for the regular trash collection. There were two plastic recliners that had badly faded in the sun, two bags of hardened concrete mix, and a cracked bird feeder. The bird feeder was made of cast reinforced cement and was too heavy to lift: It broke in pieces under the blows of my sledge hammer.
Everything was placed in the back of the Subaru, and off we drove towards Polhemus Lane to off-load this junk at Bridgewater’s bulky waste disposal site. Check out www.bridgewaternj.gov/ for dates and times.
The long driveway into the disposal site has become a popular campaign spot for office seekers. Last Saturday, a bevy of politicians was waiting in a well-spaced line to greet everyone driving in.
Pat Walsh, Green Brook Mayor who is running as a Republican for Somerset County Freeholder, was the first to greet my wife and me. Walsh is a fiery woman who told us she is demanding the discharge of some top-level employees working for the Somerset County Park Commission. She wasn’t afraid to label some of the goings-on there as a result of the “old-boys” network.
Republican Patricia Flannery, incumbent mayor of Bridgewater who is running for re-election, was out campaigning with Matthew Moench, a newcomer hoping to garner his first seat on the Bridgewater Township Council.
In a subsequent telephone call to me later that day, Flannery advised me that the last Bridgewater Township budget went up by only 2.7%, while the corresponding share of the tax rate rose by 1.9%. We should be so lucky in hoping that the Bridgewater-Raritan School Board and its administration will hold their spending increases to the same level!
Not to be outdone, Democrats Bill O’Neill, hoping to unseat Flannery as mayor of Bridgewater, and Tony O’Reilly, hoping to land a township council seat were also there pumping hands. Bill O’Neill and his team are running on a “Coalition for Change.” O’Neill was Bridgewater’s Township Administrator under a previous Democrat mayor.
It’s not too early for we Bridgewaterites to start paying close attention to what these folks are saying. By now, we all know of the unfolding scandal at the Somerset County Park Commission and of the tug-of-war going on for its existence. We also know that Bridgewater has just embarked on a major building project for the new municipal complex.
Management issues at both these levels of government have now become prime topics in your consideration of who should be elected to oversee these responsibilities.
Everything was placed in the back of the Subaru, and off we drove towards Polhemus Lane to off-load this junk at Bridgewater’s bulky waste disposal site. Check out www.bridgewaternj.gov/ for dates and times.
The long driveway into the disposal site has become a popular campaign spot for office seekers. Last Saturday, a bevy of politicians was waiting in a well-spaced line to greet everyone driving in.
Pat Walsh, Green Brook Mayor who is running as a Republican for Somerset County Freeholder, was the first to greet my wife and me. Walsh is a fiery woman who told us she is demanding the discharge of some top-level employees working for the Somerset County Park Commission. She wasn’t afraid to label some of the goings-on there as a result of the “old-boys” network.
Republican Patricia Flannery, incumbent mayor of Bridgewater who is running for re-election, was out campaigning with Matthew Moench, a newcomer hoping to garner his first seat on the Bridgewater Township Council.
In a subsequent telephone call to me later that day, Flannery advised me that the last Bridgewater Township budget went up by only 2.7%, while the corresponding share of the tax rate rose by 1.9%. We should be so lucky in hoping that the Bridgewater-Raritan School Board and its administration will hold their spending increases to the same level!
Not to be outdone, Democrats Bill O’Neill, hoping to unseat Flannery as mayor of Bridgewater, and Tony O’Reilly, hoping to land a township council seat were also there pumping hands. Bill O’Neill and his team are running on a “Coalition for Change.” O’Neill was Bridgewater’s Township Administrator under a previous Democrat mayor.
It’s not too early for we Bridgewaterites to start paying close attention to what these folks are saying. By now, we all know of the unfolding scandal at the Somerset County Park Commission and of the tug-of-war going on for its existence. We also know that Bridgewater has just embarked on a major building project for the new municipal complex.
Management issues at both these levels of government have now become prime topics in your consideration of who should be elected to oversee these responsibilities.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
A Model Meeting
Tuesday night’s meeting of the Somerset County Freeholders at the Administration Building in Somerville was a model of effectiveness. The agenda was relatively short, and all items of business passed, except for a resolution dealing with the county’s upgrades to its security systems. That topic was tabled until the freeholders’ next meeting.
There were only a handful of people in attendance, most of whom were the subjects of citations and awards given out at the beginning of the meeting. At least one of the other persons was a county employee who raised a few points about security issues, which, in turn, led to its postponement.
Robert Zaborowski, Freeholder Director, ran a good meeting. He was prepared and moved the agenda along with no distractions. Too bad more of the public wasn’t there to see how things get done in the absence of controversy. It shouldn’t take a scandal for a public meeting to become filled to capacity once in a while.
We elect public officials to do their jobs and we don’t want to look over their shoulders at everything that they do. Integrity is still expected, even though today’s skeptical public may have become a tad jaded, given recent events.
There were only a handful of people in attendance, most of whom were the subjects of citations and awards given out at the beginning of the meeting. At least one of the other persons was a county employee who raised a few points about security issues, which, in turn, led to its postponement.
Robert Zaborowski, Freeholder Director, ran a good meeting. He was prepared and moved the agenda along with no distractions. Too bad more of the public wasn’t there to see how things get done in the absence of controversy. It shouldn’t take a scandal for a public meeting to become filled to capacity once in a while.
We elect public officials to do their jobs and we don’t want to look over their shoulders at everything that they do. Integrity is still expected, even though today’s skeptical public may have become a tad jaded, given recent events.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
How to Guard Your Identity From Theft
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing forms of crime in the U.S. A March 7, 2007 report by Gartner, a research and advisory company (see hyperlink below), indicates that fraud stemming from identity theft rose more that 50% from 2005 to 2006.
There are steps that you can take to decrease the chances that you will fall in that category of victims. The first is easy and can be completed with one phone call: You may place a fraud alert on your credit records by calling any one of the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. Their telephone numbers are 1-877-478-7625, 1-800-680-7289, and 1-888-397-3742, respectively.
A call placed to one agency requires it to notify the other two that you are requesting a fraud alert to be placed on your records. The result is that potential creditors cannot issue new credit in your name without obtaining your permission beforehand. If someone has stolen your identity and applies for credit in your name, you will get a call asking whether you are the one asking for the credit. This alert is good for 90 days only and must be renewed by you.
Another way to help reduce the chance of identity theft is to obtain a free copy of your credit report and to review its activity on a regular basis. You can check this out by going to www.annualcreditreport.com. It’s a good idea to request a report once every four months from one of the three credit reporting agencies and, four months later, from the second agency, etc. That way, you are on top of your credit on a regular, rotating basis.
The third way to insure against identity theft comes with a fee. Each of the three credit companies listed above offer services beyond the legally-required free annual credit report.
Go to their web sites (www.equifax.com, www.transunion.com, and www.experian.com), to review the different levels of fee-based credit watch services. TransUnion, for example, offers a 3-bureau credit monitoring service which includes unlimited reports and credit scores, for $14.95 monthly. Check the other two companies to compare prices, monthly/yearly payment, and level of service.
Another form of fee-based service is offered by a company called LifeLock. For $10 monthly it will make sure that your fraud alerts are automatically renewed, get your name removed from pre-approved credit card and junk mail lists, etc., (See www.lifelock.com).
Most of what LifeLock does is something that you could do yourself; but for a fee, it will do them for you. This company claims that, “If your Identity is misused while you are our client, we’ll spend up to $1,000,000 to make it right.”
I hope that you have found these hints helpful. Remember, there are no fool-proof methods.
Notes:
Gartner: http://news.com.com/Study+Identity+theft+keeps+climbing/2100-1029_3-6164765.html)
See http://www.privacy.ca.gov/sheets/cis1english.htm for a discussion of the "Top 10 Tips for Identity Theft Protection.”
There are steps that you can take to decrease the chances that you will fall in that category of victims. The first is easy and can be completed with one phone call: You may place a fraud alert on your credit records by calling any one of the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. Their telephone numbers are 1-877-478-7625, 1-800-680-7289, and 1-888-397-3742, respectively.
A call placed to one agency requires it to notify the other two that you are requesting a fraud alert to be placed on your records. The result is that potential creditors cannot issue new credit in your name without obtaining your permission beforehand. If someone has stolen your identity and applies for credit in your name, you will get a call asking whether you are the one asking for the credit. This alert is good for 90 days only and must be renewed by you.
Another way to help reduce the chance of identity theft is to obtain a free copy of your credit report and to review its activity on a regular basis. You can check this out by going to www.annualcreditreport.com. It’s a good idea to request a report once every four months from one of the three credit reporting agencies and, four months later, from the second agency, etc. That way, you are on top of your credit on a regular, rotating basis.
The third way to insure against identity theft comes with a fee. Each of the three credit companies listed above offer services beyond the legally-required free annual credit report.
Go to their web sites (www.equifax.com, www.transunion.com, and www.experian.com), to review the different levels of fee-based credit watch services. TransUnion, for example, offers a 3-bureau credit monitoring service which includes unlimited reports and credit scores, for $14.95 monthly. Check the other two companies to compare prices, monthly/yearly payment, and level of service.
Another form of fee-based service is offered by a company called LifeLock. For $10 monthly it will make sure that your fraud alerts are automatically renewed, get your name removed from pre-approved credit card and junk mail lists, etc., (See www.lifelock.com).
Most of what LifeLock does is something that you could do yourself; but for a fee, it will do them for you. This company claims that, “If your Identity is misused while you are our client, we’ll spend up to $1,000,000 to make it right.”
I hope that you have found these hints helpful. Remember, there are no fool-proof methods.
Notes:
Gartner: http://news.com.com/Study+Identity+theft+keeps+climbing/2100-1029_3-6164765.html)
See http://www.privacy.ca.gov/sheets/cis1english.htm for a discussion of the "Top 10 Tips for Identity Theft Protection.”
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