Obamacare

New Mayor De Blasio an "ingrate"

New Yorkers were outraged at the shabby treatment of Mayor Bloomberg at his successor’s inauguration. Many emphasized that they didn’t always agree with Bloomy, but believed he deserved better because he served the city honestly and left it in better shape than he found it.

“I fear for our great city,” Gilly Safdeye wrote. “Appreciation and good manners seem to be anathema to our new mayor.”

Pamela Mullen put it this way: “Didn’t anyone in this new administration play team sports as a kid? You never leave the field without shaking the hands of the opposing team.”

Len Resto included a brief passage he wanted de Blasio to say, starting with: “First, I join the entire city in thanking Mayor Bloomberg for his enormous contributions in steering our city through one of its most challenging times and leaving me a with a budget in surplus, city agencies which are fully functional and for a quality of life which is better today than when he took office. Mr. Mayor, thank you!”

It would have taken only a few seconds and, Resto says, would have changed the tone of the day. I agree, but de Blasio doesn’t.

Asked later about the ungracious attacks, the new mayor said: “Everyone who spoke at the inauguration spoke from the heart . . . I’m very comfortable with all that was done.”

There you have the new mayor’s standard. As long as you speak “from the heart,” nothing else matters, including facts and manners.

I trust de Blasio will support that same standard when his critics speak from their hearts.

Funeral of the murdered Stark, video

Hundreds of people turned out tonight for the funeral of Menachem Stark, after the body of the 39 year old Williamsburg real estate developer was found in a dumpster at a Great Neck gas station. 
Stark’s burned body was discovered by police late yesterday afternoon and the Nassau County medical examiner’s office has yet to announce if Stark’s body was burned prior to his death. 

The levaya was held at the Lodiner Shul on Marcy Avenue at 8:30 tonight and the crowds filled the street for a full city block in either direction. 

Emotion laden hespedim were offered by the niftar’s father, R’ Yisroel Stark, his father in law R’ Yisroel Yitzchak Bernath, his chavrusa Chaim Hirsch, his brother in law Pinchas German, R’Avraham Mendlovits, the Lodiner Rov, his business partner Sam Perlmutter, R’ Yosef Dovid Schneebalg, the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Zalman Leib Teitelbaum and his brother Yoely Stark. 

 Stark was the father of eight children, ranging in age from 16 to just under one year old. 
 Following the over ninety minute levaya, the niftar and his family departed for an 11 PM levaya to be held in Monroe, with kevura to take place at the Satmar cemetery on Schunnemunk Road.

Nation braces for the coldest temperatures in 40 YEARS! where are the "Global Warming"guys?

Below-freezing temperatures expected to carry on through the weekend with rare 'polar vortex' due in the Midwest

Record lows expected across the region as a freakishly cold weather-system barrels down from the Arctic to hit the United States

Experts have said that the weather will be the coldest experienced in almost three generations

Nearly half the nation -- 140 million people -- will be hit by under zero degrees Fahrenheit temperatures or lower by Wednesday

Nights in North Dakota will be nearly -30 degrees Fahrenheit

At least 16 deaths were blamed on the storm as it swept across the nation's eastern half

On Sunday the Green Bay Packers play the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin - in temperatures approaching -20 - possibly the coldest game ever played

Meteorologists have warned that the cold temperatures could remain throughout the entire winter season

2,500 flights canceled on Friday across the U.S. and an additional 5,100 delayed

Warnings plummeting temperatures and wind chills below zero could freeze exposed skin within 15 minutes

Outreach teams looked to get homeless people off the frigid streets of Minneapolis, New York, Chicago and Boston

 

Menachem Stark found Murdered! Video of abduction

The deceased body of the kidnapped Orthodox Jewish real estate developer from Williamsburg, 39 year-old Menachem Starks, was discovered Friday afternoon in a smoldering dumpster at a Great Neck, Long Island gas station.

According to sources, initial reports are that Starks died of suffocation, but his body was also badly burned around the hands and midsection.

Tests are underway by the Nassau County medical examiner to determine whether the burns were post mortem.

Sources say employees of the Getty station noticed a small plume of smoke rising from the dumpster around 7 a.m. Friday morning, and assuming it was an errantly discarded cigarette, simply threw shovels full of snow over the top of the dumpster to distinguish the fire.

According to the NY Post, “In the morning, it was smoking,” said Fernando Cerff, owner of the gas station located at 120 Cuttermill Road in Great Neck. “We threw snow on it, and it stopped.”

Around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, Cerff said the smell of charred flesh overwhelmed him as he went to discard some trash in the dumpster.
“There was a smell—-it was horrible,” said Cerff. “I got a really bad feeling about it. I knew something was wrong.

The station was closed immediately, and the entire dumpster was removed from the property, with later reports saying that Starks’ body had been wrapped in fabric and set ablaze.

Initial reports are that Starks’ body was in the dumpster overnight.
Police were able to identify Starks’ body, but initially ran into difficulties contacting family members due to the timing of the weekly Jewish Sabbath.
“It’s a little hard to get ahold of some people,” one law enforcement source said of the difficulties contacting Starks’ family.

Ultimately, a contingency of NYPD detectives and community affairs reps visited Starks’ home at around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, where Starks’ family was assembled.

Starks had been missing since late Thursday evening after his wife said he failed to return home by midnight.
Family members subsequently contacted Shomrim, the Orthodox neighborhood watch group.

Videotaped surveillance footage showing two suspects duct-taping Starks’ hands before forcing him into a white Dodge Caravan outside his South Side Associates offices at 331 Rutledge St. in Willamsburg was found inside Starks’ office.



Shomrim officially notified police around 2:30 a.m. Friday morning. On Friday, family members offered a $100,000 reward for Starks’ safe return with “no questions asked.”

There were initial reports that Starks may have been carrying some $4,000 in cash when he was abducted, but his brother Yitzy Stark later denied them. Police released a grainy video of the abduction in asking for the public’s help. NYPD officials said only that the case is being investigated by the major case squad as a homicide.

 The funeral will be held 8:30 tonight at 251 Marcy Ave at the Lodiner Shul.

Kim Jong Un killed his uncle by feeding him to starving dogs

Kim Jong Un & Uncle Jang Song Thaek in "better" time

According to a detailed report, Kim Jong Un fed his Uncle Jang Song Thaek to a pack of hungry dogs, a deviation from the traditional method of execution by firing squad.

"Jang was stripped naked and thrown into a cage, along with his five closest aides. Then 120 hounds, starved for three days, were allowed to prey on them until they were completely eaten up. This is called "quan jue", or execution by dogs."

The report, appearing in a Chinese controlled newspaper, stated that the "execution" lasted for one hour and was supervised by Kim Jong Un and "300 senior officials."  

Six months ago, the North Korean dictator executed his ex-girlfriend by firing squad. 

Menachem Stark kidnapped in Williamsburg, update

Menachem Stark's office

A Jewish Satmar businessman, Menachim Stark, brother of Cantor Stark was kidnapped overnight from his Williamsburg office.

New York City police of the 90th Precinct and Williamsburg Shomrim Patrol are investigating reports of an abduction in Brooklyn, Shtark was abducted from his office late last night by two perpetrators into a van.
According to video surveillance, the two suspects were waiting outside Stark’s office, which is located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, jumped on him, threw him into a big white van, and drove away.

Police said that numerous phone calls to Stark’s cellphone went unanswered.

Due to the snowstorm, police are unable to efficiently search for the victim or the suspects.

Police searched Stark’s office, where they were looking for clues.

Stark is a strong supporter of the Satmar grand rabbi. Last week, the rabbi's wife held a fundraiser at Stark’s home.

The  scene unfolded on Rutledge Street and Broadway about 11:30pm. Police are reviewing nearby security cameras to get any lead possible.

UPDATED FRIDAY 12:00PM

As police hunt for clues regarding the apparent abduction of a Williamsburg man, relatives of 39 year old Menachem Stark are issuing an urgent appeal for volunteers.

“We need people to come help with the cameras,” Yoely Stark, brother of the missing man, told VIN News.  “We need volunteers to see which buildings have cameras and we need people who know how to access the security footage.”

While police are not officially calling Stark’s disappearance an abduction, they have confirmed that security footage show Stark leaving his office at 2:30 AM.

“We are still taking reports,” said an NYPD spokesman.  “A male appears to have been taken from his place of work in a van by two people.”

Menachem Stark is described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds.

According to Yoely Stark, security footage shows his brother fighting with the men briefly outside his office at 331 Rutledge Street before he was bound with duct tape and thrown into a light colored Dodge van.  Stark urged volunteers to come forward immediately.

“We have to move quickly,” said Stark.  “Shabbos is coming and time is very important.  Remember Leiby Kletzky?  They only got him through the security cameras and we need people to come forward now to help.  The fastest way possible to get information is through the cameras which give the most accurate information.”

Stark asked volunteers to contact Shomrim at 718 237-0202

A July 2011 report on real estate website TheRealDeal.com names Stark as one of two men facing $51 million in personal guaranty and foreclosure lawsuits for five separate loans made in Williamsburg and Greenpoint in 2006 and 2007.  It is unknown at this time if there is any connection between the lawsuit and the kidnapping.

Here is the report in Yiddish:

השתדלו והרבו תחינה ובקשה: רבנים און עסקנים רופן כלל ישראל איינצורייסן פאר דער חסידי'שער אינגערמאן ר' מנחם משולם בן שאניא עטי-ה - וועלכע איז בייזוויליג פארכאפט געווארן נעכטן דאנערשטאג אויפדערנאכט אין הארץ פון וויליאמסבורג דורך צוויי אומאידענטיפיצירטע פארברעכער - אז ער זאל וואס שנעלער אפגעפונען ווערן אין א גוטע צושטאנד, און זיך קענען צוריק פאראייניגען מיט זיין פאמיליע.

דאנערשטאג נאכט, אום 11:30 האט דער אינגערמאן פארלאזט זיין אפיס וועלכע איז סטאנציאנירט אויף ראטלידזש, ווען פלוצלינג איז ער איבערגעפאלן געווארן דורך צוויי פארמאסקירטע פארשוינען. ווי די זיכערהייט קאמערעס צייגען, איז אנטשטאנען א 5-מינוטיגע העפטיגע געראנגל צווישן דעם אינגערמאן אין זיינע פארכאפער, ביז ער איז ענדגילטיג אריינגעצויגען געווארן אין דער ווייסער-דייטש ווען, וועלכע האט נישט פארמאגט קיים פלעטס אויף זיך.

שומרים און פאליציי זענען אלארמירט געווארן עטליכע שטונדן שפעטער, דורך זיין פרוי וועלכע האט זיך באקלאגט אז זי קען נישט צוקומען צו איר מאן, און איר טעלעפאן רופן ווערן געענטפערט דורך זיין וואויסמעיל. שומרים אין פאליציי האבן אין איילעניש אינטערגענומען א אינטענסיווע זוך-אקציע און אויספארשונג צו קומען אויף די שפורן פון דעם אינגערמאן אין זיינע פארכאפער.

דער אויספארשונג זעצט ווייטער פאר מיטן גאנצן קראפט, עס האלטן און איין אריינגעברענגט ווערן פרישע אגענטורן וועלכע זענען ספעציעל טרענירט צו האנדלן מיט אזוינע סענסעטיווע פעלער, און נאך פאליצייאישע עקספערטן וועלכע האבן זיך אין לויף פון די נאכט זיך אנגעשלאסן אין די מאסיווע אויספארשונג.

דערווייל האלט מען שוין 10 שטונדן פון ווען דער אינגערמאן איז פארכאפט געווארן, און דערווייל האט מען נאכנישט געהערט קיין פאזעטיווע ענדערונגען אינעם קעיס.

נעמט ארויס א תהלימ'ל און רייסט איין אז אונזער ברודער זאל אפגעפונען ווערן אין א גוטע געזונט-צושטאנד, גאנץ אן קיין שום שאדן.

Video of "Askanim" meeting, discussing and planning the New York protest against the IDF, IT FAILED

Bob Grant Radio Talk Show Pioneer Dead at 84

Longtime conservative radio host Bob Grant, whose combative style became the template for broadcasters such as Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, has died at age 84.

Grant’s death on Tuesday in Hillsborough, N.J., after a short illness was confirmed on Thursday by New York radio station WABC, which once fired him over his acid-tongued remarks about the plane crash death of one of President Bill Clinton’s cabinet members, the first black commerce secretary.

“Remember this: If you are offended during the next two hours, it’s nobody’s fault but mine,” Grant said at the top of a broadcast featured in a 2010 tribute. “Because somebody’s got to say these things. It has to be me.”

Grant was born Robert Ciro Gigante in Chicago in 1939. He began his broadcasting career in the 1940s at WBBM in Chicago. He moved on to radio and television jobs in Los Angeles and was named afternoon drive time host at WABC in 1984.

Over the years, Grant, who was white, offended some listeners by referring to former New York Mayor David Dinkins, who’s black, as a “washroom attendant,” calling Clinton a “sleazebag” and suggesting women on welfare should be sterilized.

He once said of blacks: “I can’t take these screaming savages, whether they’re in the African Methodist Church, the A.M.E. church, or whether they’re in the streets, burning, robbing, looting.”

And, in a May 1993 broadcast, he lambasted Martin Luther King Jr. as “that slimeball” and “this bum, this womanizer, this liar, this fake, this phony.”

WABC mostly defended Grant’s First Amendment right to voice his opinions. But he apparently crossed the line in 1996 amid early reports that there was only one survivor of the crash of a plane carrying U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown in Croatia.

“My hunch is that he (Brown) is the one survivor,” he said. “I must have a hunch. Maybe, ‘cause at heart, I’m a pessimist.”

Two weeks later, Grant was taken off the air. He moved to WOR in New York before returning to WABC in 2006.

Grant is survived by his sons, Jeff Grant, of Sun City, Ariz., and Chris Grant, of Fallbrook, Calif., and by his daughters, Alisa Mingus, of Kalamazoo, Mo., and Cynthia Gaydosh, of Bridgewater, N.J., according to an obituary prepared by a New Jersey funeral home.

The obituary says Grant “was a proud friend of Bill W. for 44 years” — a reference to William Wilson, a founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Ostreicher resting in LA!

(L-R) Ari Ostricher next to his brother Yanky, Mark Wahlberg,  Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz on Dec. 31, 2013.

In the first photos to emerge of Yanky Ostreicher since his arrival in the United States, the Brooklyn businessman is shown together with Holywood actor Mark Wahlberg at the home of a Los Angeles philanthropist.

VIN News has confirmed the authenticity, and that the photographs were taken on December 31st at the home of Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz.

According to a VIN News source who is familiar with the situation and asked to remain anonymous, it was Wahlberg who first made actor Sean Penn aware of Ostreicher’s plight, which set into motion the sequence of events that finally ended in Ostreicher’s escape from Bolivia.  Both Wahlberg and Rechnitz have been working for over a year to facilitate Ostreicher’s return to the United States.

“It was a covert operation, although maybe not James Bond style,” said the source.

Ostreicher, who is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, is said to be staying indefinitely at an undisclosed location in Los Angeles, where he is recovering from his lengthy ordeal in Bolivia.  Ostreicher’s brother, Ari, has flown in from New York and Penn has been visiting with Ostreicher on a daily basis.

The Aleph Foundation, which has also been involved in the Ostreicher situation for many months, presented Penn and Wahlberg with silver menorahs on Monday and Tuesday respectively, in appreciation of their humanitarian efforts.

The Aleph Foundation declined to comment on their involvement with Ostreicher and due to the New Years holiday, Wahlberg’s communication office was unavailable for comment.

Bloomberg blasted at de Blasio swearing in, "Black" Chaplain says "New York is a "plantation"

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

Mayor de Blasio’s inaugural guests took turns beating up on former Mayor Mike Bloomberg at City Hall Wednesday — even calling his reign a “plantation” that callously ignored New York’s hungry children.

With the ex-mayor seated just feet away, in the front row of the dais, performer and civil-rights icon Harry Belafonte launched the first shot by calling the city’s justice system “Dickensian” thanks to Bloomberg’s stop-and-frisk policy — an apparent reference to de Blasio’s “Tale of Two Cities” campaign theme.

“New York alarmingly plays a tragic role in the fact that our nation has the largest prison population in the world,” he said, without mentioning that incarceration rates in the city had plummeted by 36 percent since Bloomberg took office in 2002.

Sanitation Department Chaplain Fred ­Lucas Jr. prayed that God free New Yorkers from the “shackles of partisan politics” and “political correctness,” and then went on to refer to the city as a “plantation.”

“Let the plantation called New York City be the city of God, a city up on a hill, a light shining in darkness,” he said.

Modal Trigger

And Public Advocate Letitia James bragged that the city’s Democratic victories werevoiceless must give way to a government that works for them, that speaks for them, that cares more about a child going hungry than a new stadium or a new tax credit for a luxury development that a majority of New Yorkers can’t ­afford,” James said.

 “inevitable” because of current conditions. “The policies that made [the struggling class] 

She added that “we live in a gilded age of inequality where decrepit homeless shelters and housing developments stand in the neglected shadow of gleaming multimillion-dollar condos.”

She later insisted her rhetoric “wasn’t personal.”

At one point, James held hands with her new “BFF,” Dasani Coates, a 12-year-old girl The New York Times profiled in a week-long series about homelessness.

Bloomberg appeared to grimace through much of the ceremony and endured faint boos from the crowd when he was introduced. His successes were virtually ­ignored until former President Bill Clinton finally acknowledged him an hour into the program.

“I also want to thank Mayor Bloomberg, who has committed so much of his life to New York City,” Clinton said, as Bloomberg mouthed the words, “Thank you.”

“He leaves the city stronger and healthier than he found it,” Clinton added. De Blasio followed, acknowledging Bloomberg’s “incredible commitment” and noting his crisis management and environmental stewardship.

Many New Yorkers watching the inauguration bristled at the Bloomberg bashing.

“I find these speakers offensive,” Brooklyn Democratic district leader Betty Ann Canizio tweeted. “It appears to be reeking of racism. Didn’t know we had a plantation.”