Early this morning, I sat down in front of the computer for a quick check of the early headlines, etc. The AOL screen came up with a headline that said something like “Surprise Nobel winner.”

I saw a big picture of President Obama to the left. I  thought, “oh, someone put in the wrong JPEG … I wonder who won the Nobel Peace Prize?”

And then, it clicked. Good thing that coffee wasn’t ready yet, so there was nothing to spew. It was a shocker. The more I read, the more I saw the how the committee determined that choice, and it is, after all, their award to give. (And it says a great deal about the importance of the American engagement in the world, which we in the U.S. may not always fully see.)

The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited Obama’s “efforts to strengthen international diplomacy,” and his “vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons” and for inspiring hope and creating “a new climate in international politics.” I’ve proudly noticed how the Nobels this year in the sciences have had heavy U.S. representation — scientists whose work over decades hase begun to produce results. It’s worth noting that the Peace Prize is given by a different committee, with a different mission.

What I’ve found really interesting is the variety of responses, many not so different than mine (borderline bemusement).

The comment of Lech Walesa, who won the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize in The Wall Street Journal :

Who, Obama? So fast? Too fast—he hasn’t had the time to do anything yet.

Here’s that world perspective we sometimes miss, courtesy of former U.N. secretary general and 2001 Nobel recipient Kofi Annan:

In an increasingly challenging and volatile world, President Obama has given a sense of hope and optimism to millions around the world.

And that American-as-partisanship-pie perspective from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele:

The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?

Here’s part of a comment sent to me by Pastor Johann Christoph Arnold, who first states “As much as I love and respect our president, this was a hasty decision that will not bring good consequences”:

Jesus says we will know a tree by its fruits. Even the best fruit takes time to ripen. How can our president – as good-willing as he might be – bear meaningful fruit after less than a year in office?  The Nobel Committee should do better than this. I hope that many other voices will join me in expressing their disappointment in this decision.

Independent Institute Research Analyst Anthony Gregory, in response to some conservative pundits who expressed concern the Nobel committee was making it harder for Obama to keep U.S. troops, and ramp up military presence, in Afghanistan:

The real problem with Obama’s Nobel is not that it might neuter him, but rather that it may embolden him. In the name of peace, he and previous presidents have kept America in a virtual state of perpetual war for three generations. The Nobel is a signal to Obama that he can keep talking like a man of peace even as he acts like a master of war. Those who favored Obama, thinking he’d be less belligerent against Iran than McCain, now have more reason to worry.

There’s an interesting — albeit predictable — discussion about gun rights, gun safety and home defense, in the forum attached to a Rockland story about the shooting of two men accused of breaking into a home in Haverstraw. Here’s the link.

Many readers are applauding the actions of the rifle-wielding homeowner, who struck one of the alleged assailants in the arm and the other in the rear end. They also opened up a wider discussion about gun rights.

Here’s a sampling of the comment, creative spellings included:

“the owner need more range time, arm and butt shot not that good, but what if he didnt have his rifle, what could have been the outcome, maybe a homicide in havastraw?”

“Shoot first ask questions later? Of course i dont comply with this method of thought, however i do believe that these two criminals got their just deserts. I’m not promoting that everyone should go out and buy themselves a gun for protection, but i do think this event taking place is good in the sense that it sends out a message to other criminals like these two clowns that they better second think their actions.”

“They’ll have to pry my cold, dead hands off my gun before I give it up. Look at where the politicians, who want to take away the honest citizen’s gun rights, live – estates and gated communities with armed guards. If that’s what it takes, then consider me an armed guard – guarding my family and what is rightfully mine. Let some lazy, ignorant, non-english speaking punk just try and take that away and I promise you they will die of lead poisoning. I know where center-of-mass is and I’m trained NOT to miss.”

“2ND AMMENDMENT “THE RIGHTS TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS” NEXT TIME YOU HEAR A POLITICIAN TALKING ABOUT “GUN CONTROL” IT ALWAYS MEANS TAKING THE GUNS AWAY FROM THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.
WE ALREADY HAVE GUN LAWS THAT ARE NOT ENFORCED AND THE CRIMINALS CAN GET BETTER, FASTER AND CHEAPER GUNS THAN WE CAN.”

The shooting comes as gun sales have been skyrocketing nationwide. Here’s a link to a story published Monday on the trend in New York, as reported by our Albany Bureau.

Our view is reflected in an editorial today, “Bigger threats to home safety.” It offers some food for thought to those who think the biggest threats to home security are home invaders, the Supreme Court and the Obama administration.

As for gauging the effectiveness of the calorie labeling laws in chain restaurants, the first results are in and they are not encouraging.  As reported online today in the journal  Health Affairs: the Policy Journal of the Health Sphere, researchers from New York University and Yale University checked the receipts of low-income and multi-ethnic consumers before the calorie labeling law went into effect in New York City in July 2008 and again four weeks later, after the law went into effect. The researchers did the same in Newark, New Jersey, a city without a calorie labeling law. They targeted four fast-food places where calories were listed prominently on menu boards, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC. 

 While about half the diners in New York City said they noticed the calorie counts and about a quarter said they were influenced by them, but the research showed that the calorie consumption actually went up after the calories were posted. The average meal consisted of 825 calories before the law went into effect and 846 calories after the law went into effect.  In Newark, the calorie-consumption stayed about the same over the same period of time—823 calories to 826.

So what gives? The researchers said their study showed that more education needed to accompany the calorie postings, given that it is so difficult to get people to change their eating habits.

I have a less scientific analysis. People who eat at fast food restaurants are influenced by the cost of food. Maybe the higher calorie food was less expensive. Or , perhaps in anticipation of losing customers to the calorie posting law, the chain dropped the prices of their higher calorie offerings to make them more appealing.

 These research results, which were based on a sample of 1,156 adults, are just the first course. Expect more news when the New York City health department releases its far larger study, which is due soon.

Published reports say that Larry Schwartz, the former Westchester Deputy County Executive and now top  adviser to Gov. David Paterson, is in open conflict with the state’s new Lt. Governor,  Richard Ravitch. At issue, is how the governor should proceed with budget cuts, the New York Post’s Fred Dicker reports.

Schwartz, an always-astute reader of the political scene, is said to want Paterson to push the difficult budget cutting decisions onto the Legislature—so that he can, perhaps, regain the support of voters. Ravitch, who is often credited with shepherding New York City out of bankruptcy in the 1970s, is said to be more interested in the actual governing part of serving in government, has been urging Gov. Paterson to go ahead and make the hard cuts himself. It will be interesting to keep an eye on these behind-the-scenes machinations.

Here’s the latest interview schedule updated to reflect the Putnam and Rockland sessions.

Candidates in most contested elections for mayor, supervisor, council members and trustees in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties are invited to discuss the issues and their campaigns in endorsement interviews with Editorial Board. As in the past, these discussions will form the basis of news articles and serve as fodder for the Editorial Board’s recommendations. Because of the vast number of races — and the impossibility of crafting a schedule that meets everyone’s family, work and campaign needs — we appreciate efforts by candidates to make their scheduled interview hour. Look here for additional interview times and updates for Lower Hudson Valley races.
Contact us: If you are running for office on the November ballot, we want to hear from you. Please send your full name, home address, contact phone numbers and an active e-mail address to Brenda Ross, editorial assistant, at bross@lohud.com, with a copy to letters@lohud.com. In both the subject line and body of the e-mail, be sure to indicate what office you are vying for. The information will be used by our news and editorial staff to contact and correspond with candidates. Additionally, the e-mail address will be used to send candidates a questionnaire that will form the basis of an online guide for voters.
Watch online: Voters can watch our endorsement interviews LIVE online by going to Editorial Spotlight; use the live blogging feature to submit questions to the candidates. If you miss a session, watch it On Demand later; go to EditorialSpotlight, click “On Demand” and select the video from the list at the right.

The following interviews will be held at our White Plains office, 1 Gannett Drive; directions are online under Election Alert. Please advise Interactivity Editor Tracey Princiotta, at tprinciot@lohud.com, if you will attend a Westchester or Putnam session.

Wednesday, Oct. 7
1 p.m. — Westchester County Board of Legislators (Districts 1, 4 & 9)
2:30 p.m. — Westchester County Board of Legislators (Districts 5, 8, 13 & 17)

Thursday, Oct. 8
2 p.m. — Ossining Town & Village
3:15 p.m. — Mamaroneck Village
4:30 p.m. — Pound Ridge

Monday, Oct. 12
2 p.m. — Eastchester

Tuesday, Oct. 13
2 p.m. — Cortlandt
3:15 p.m. — North Salem
4:30 p.m. — Bedford

Thursday, Oct. 15
3:15 p.m. — Harrison
4:30 p.m. — White Plains

Monday, Oct. 19
2 p.m. — North Castle
3:15 p.m. — Somers
4:30 p.m. — Putnam County Sheriff

Tuesday, Oct. 20
2 p.m. — Yonkers
3:15 p.m. — Yorktown
4:30 p.m. — Carmel

Wednesday, Oct. 21
2 p.m. — Rye City
3:15 p.m. — Putnam Valley

Thursday, Oct. 22
2 p.m. — Peekskill
3:15 p.m. — Lewisboro

The following interviews will be held at our Rockland office, 1 Crosfield Ave. (off Route 59), West Nyack; directions are online under Election Alert. Please advise Rockland Opinion Editor Nancy Cutler, at ncutler@lohud.com, if you will attend.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
1 p.m. — Rockland County Legislature District 14
2:30 p.m. — Clarkstown Town Board
3:30 p.m. — Nyack Village mayor
4:30 p.m. — Nyack Village Trustees

Thursday, Oct. 8
11 a.m. — Spring Valley mayor
12 p.m. — Spring Valley trustees

Monday, Oct. 12
11 a.m. — Suffern mayor
12 p.m. — Suffern trustees

Wednesday, Oct. 14
1 p.m. — Orangetown Supervisor
2:30 p.m. — Orangetown Town Board
3:30 p.m. — Ramapo Supervisor
4:30 pm — Ramapo Town Board

Thursday, Oct. 15
11 a.m. — Stony Point Supervisor
12 p.m. — Stony Point Town Board

Wednesday, Oct. 21
11 a.m. — Rockland County Executive

I thought the drug generation burned out in the 60s and 70s. Guess not. Deaths from drug use—illegal, prescription, borrowed—are not only on the rise, in 16 states they have overtaken deaths from car accidents. According to an Associated Press story, New York is one of those states. 

The improvement in car safety has contributed to the reversal, but even more important is the growing use of prescription pain killers. 

This is another reason to believe the public service ads that remind us to keep a watch on our medicine cabinets—and keep talking to our kids about the dangers of drug use.  Not that the increase is all due to young people, but recent reports suggest that  kids who don’t want to smell of alcohol or marijuana are turning to prescription pills to get high. Add to that the rise in heroin use and the increase in intensity of  the marijuana that’s sold these days, and you have a problem that the flower children of yore could never have anticipated.

The recent spate of drunk-driving accidents and fatalities in the Lower Hudson Valley have served to focus reader debate on drinking and driving. Many residents support measures that would help curb DWI such as stricter enforcement of laws on the books, as well as strenthening penalties for those convicted of the crime.

Readers’ outspokenness on the issue is a given on the forums and in the story chats. However, while driving to work this morning, I found one motorist who has taken the fight even further. The vehicle’s license plate read “DONT DUI.” Now that’s making a statement.

Candidates in most contested elections for mayor, supervisor and trustee in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties are invited to discuss the issues and their campaigns in endorsement interviews with Editorial Board. As in the past, these discussions will form the basis of news articles and serve as fodder for the Editorial Board’s recommendations. Because of the vast number of races — and the impossibility of crafting a schedule that meets everyone’s family, work and campaign needs — we appreciate efforts by candidates to make their scheduled interview hour. Look here for additional interview times for races in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.
The following interviews will be held at our White Plains office, 1 Gannett Drive (off of Westchester Avenue, between Corporate Park Drive and Bryant Avenue). Please advise Interactivity Editor Tracey Princiotta, at tprinciot@lohud.com, if you will attend a Westchester or Putnam session.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
1 p.m. — Westchester County Board of Legislators (Districts 1, 4 & 9)
2:30 p.m. — Westchester County Board of Legislators (Districts 5, 8, 13 & 17)

Thursday, Oct. 8
2 p.m. — Ossining Town
3:15 p.m. — Mamaroneck Village
4:30 p.m. — Pound Ridge

Monday, Oct. 12
2 p.m. — Eastchester

Tuesday, Oct. 13
2 p.m. — Cortlandt
3:15 p.m. — North Salem
4:30 p.m. — Bedford

Thursday, Oct. 15
2 p.m. — White Plains
3:15 p.m. — Harrison

Monday, Oct. 19
2 p.m. — North Castle
3:15 p.m. — Somers

Tuesday, Oct. 20
2 p.m. — Yonkers
3:15 p.m. — Yorktown

Wednesday, Oct. 21
2 p.m. — Rye City

Thursday, Oct. 22
2 p.m. — Peekskill
3:15 p.m. — Lewisboro

Readers are praising a 14-year-old Armonk girl who protected her younger sister and helped police catch a burglar Monday after the suspect allegedly broke into the family’s home. Katherine Weiss called authorities after locking herself and her 9-year-old sister Caroline in a bedroom during the break-in. Police apprehended a man who they say may be involved in a string of burglaries in the area. Read report Shawn Cohen’s account of what happened and then tell us what you think.
Here’s what one person had to say:

Great job at remaining calm and doing what needed to be done!! One less burglar on the streets due to her actions. Her parents should be very proud.

Another wrote:

What a wonderful outcome! … Congratulations to Katherine for her ability to function so well when she must have felt such fear, and being able to ease her community’s safety concern issues.

One reader took issue with part of the coverage, writing:

Great job by these girls, but I’m annoyed and disturbed by the photo. Did it dawn on anyone that, by putting a photo of these girls out there for the young burglar/his family/his friends to see, that you may be putting these girls in harm’s way?

A few readers were suggesting alternate methods of home protection, such as this person, who wrote:

I really don’t understand why people don’t get an alarm, especially if you are going to leave your kids at home alone. It’s so affordable. I pay $30 a month and it’s well worth it. Keep yourself and your family safe.

Another said:

Get a dog; best alarm system out there.

There’s an interesting discussion going on in Spring Valley, following a Sunday article about municipal salaries. As it turns out, 48 of the 50 highest-paid village employees are police officers. Topping the list is Police Chief Paul J. Modica, at $191,617. Mayor George Darden, the highest-paid mayor in Rockland, brought up the rear in the top-50 list. He took in $102,391. Here’s a link to the article by Suzan Clarke and Cathey O’Donnell. The discussion—see the comments at the end of the article—will be familiar to taxpayers living in Spring Valley . . . and pretty much everywhere else in the Lower Hudson Valley.