tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222503632009-11-07T19:34:23.601-05:00Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-42406446324092823782007-11-28T13:17:00.000-05:002007-11-28T13:19:26.695-05:00

Another reminder: My blogs and those of my Press colleagues - and now readers, too - are available at the Press' new Web site: http://www.app.com/. See you there.

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-10293115950551653822007-11-26T16:04:00.000-05:002007-11-26T17:29:16.833-05:00

It's time to move on. No, not me, just how to find my blog. The Press has redesigned its Web site and my blog goes with it. So after 2 p.m. Tuesday, you can find me at the new http://www.app.com/. Follow me there.

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-29904784586658970752007-11-16T15:16:00.000-05:002007-11-16T15:45:41.235-05:00

That three different baseball players would show up on the news pages on the same mid-November day is too much to ask, even for this baseball 24/7/365 fan.Barry Bonds being indicted for lying about his steroid use should come as no surprise. His statements about the probe over four years have indicated how egotistical and detached from reality he is. If he had come clean, so to speak, about his

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-78449722637795173202007-11-09T14:51:00.000-05:002007-11-10T22:38:17.586-05:00

Lest you think ethical lapses reside only in Trenton, consider the fuzzy thinking of Nancy Nord, acting head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington. She sees nothing wrong with taking trips paid for by the industries her agency regulates. What better way to preview the season's hottest new toys than to attend the American International Toy Fair in New York on the Toy Industry

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-23156056480337120882007-11-06T22:17:00.000-05:002007-11-06T23:59:12.316-05:00

Putting together the election edition for our newspaper with complete results used to depend on machines that worked, election clerks who didn't leave before letting us know who won and the ingenuity of reporters to get it all straight when things didn't go smoothly. No more. The Web sites put up in both Monmouth and Ocean counties bring the results in real time - a real service to their

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-61404728491088144092007-11-02T16:17:00.000-04:002007-11-02T17:20:08.462-04:00

This old political science major is bummed out. I love politics, but ... The amount of money being spent to win hotly contested legislative seats is obscene. And the money too often goes for negative advertising that leads you to wonder what new mailing or TV spot will strike a new low in tastelessness. Why would anyone want to run for public office if all you can look forward to is putting your

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-41108101719439518642007-10-31T13:14:00.000-04:002007-10-31T15:06:14.417-04:00

Barnegat Board of Education members can use a lesson in the First Amendment. They barred a parent, by unanimous vote Monday, from volunteering at school activities because she blogs on her own Web site. Lisa Becker's site focuses on Barnegat's municipal government and school board. It seems the board is afraid the district will be named a defendant in any lawsuit prompted by anything offensive

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-83079693724011564412007-10-29T22:51:00.000-04:002007-10-30T09:01:29.080-04:00

The calendar may read only Oct. 29, but winter started today.Yes, it was the first morning I had to scrape ice from my car windows. Can't say anything good about it. That was followed by maneuvering through my development dealing with sun glare on my mostly defrosted front windshield. (And when I got to work, that sun was still glaring just above my work station.) April, or a return of our

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-92050981845090766292007-10-26T14:57:00.000-04:002007-10-26T15:23:13.498-04:00

Those roadside campaign signs add visual pollution to the landscape this time of year. I can't imagine anyone casts a vote in response. But the candidates obviously think they make a difference. However, when it comes to signs in the hot race for state Senate in the 12th District, there's little to distinguish between Democratic Sen. Ellen Karcher and Republican Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-61548357941144062682007-10-24T15:36:00.000-04:002007-10-24T16:00:00.798-04:00

You've got to wonder what kind of background checks Gov. Corzine's office conducts before making nominations. Case in point: His naming Monday of Gabriella E. Morris to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, which oversees lobbying and campaign finance. Only problem: Morris is registered with ELEC as a lobbyist for Prudential Insurance.The conflict is clear and is reflected in ELEC's code

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-14360930910257585292007-10-23T17:08:00.000-04:002007-10-23T18:29:15.374-04:00

Isn't anything sacred? Something as benign as the Web address for the Ocean County Library? Yes, http://www.oceancountylibrary.org/ no longer gets Internet users to see the offerings of the county's library. Instead, you get a home page referring to all sorts of online library stuff, including one marked "Meet Sexy Singles.'' Not exactly what the county library folks have in mind.The domain name

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-17515309420428322272007-10-17T15:07:00.000-04:002007-10-17T15:46:53.381-04:00

Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan is no stranger to headlines. He's an aggressive politician who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor in 2005. But this time, the limelight might be a tad uncomfortable as the stories expose his private actions clashing with his public statements.The public Lonegan wants to see stricter policies on illegal immigration. But that didn't stop the

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-18535606657961041062007-10-15T10:12:00.000-04:002007-10-16T08:57:32.615-04:00

There's something about seeing the names of so many cancer victims and survivors on pink papers pinned to the backs of so many walkers that makes a breast cancer awareness walk so compelling. So it was for the thousands at the Komen Walk for the Cure at Great Adventure Sunday morning. But it's a celebration, too, which is obvious from the hugs and cheers and laughter, with nary an agitated voice,

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-53810474175844263752007-10-03T17:49:00.000-04:002007-10-03T18:08:11.859-04:00

Entitlements. It's become a term of derision from those who find Social Security, Medicare or other government programs too expensive.But that feeling of being entitled extends to federal employees. The Government Accountability Office reported Tuesday that 67 percent of the premium-class air travel by executives and their employees was unauthorized or otherwise unjustified. The bill for that

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-13519611799131058452007-10-01T21:51:00.000-04:002007-10-01T22:10:34.774-04:00

As noted in my bio, I'm a baseball fan before all other extracurrics. And the Mets have been my team since before they were formed in '62. So these are sad times after their September swoon? Not really, because as much as I love baseball, it's only a game. I do believe my "Baseball is Life'' T-shirt because the game holds so many life lessons about preparation, discipline, redemption and, thanks

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-9153215522186500402007-08-31T17:10:00.000-04:002007-08-31T18:54:26.446-04:00

New York hotelier Leona Helmsley no longer may be considered the "Queen of Mean'' now that she's bequeathed $12 million for the care of her dog Trouble. (Don't tell that to the two grandchildren she reportedly left out of her will.) But you've got to wonder whether $100,000 or so would be enough for her beloved pet. Think about how many shelters can be sustained with the remaining $11.9

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-55226128017514159952007-08-28T22:33:00.000-04:002007-08-28T23:24:59.353-04:00

Our editorial Monday about the need for more variety in the PNC Bank Arts Center programming noted that the first concert at the Holmdel amphitheater 39 years ago featured the Philadelphia Orchestra. Back in the day, the stage hosted top singers and comics, Broadway-caliber shows, opera, ballet and classical performers. Yes, that was then and this is now, with the schedule dominated by groups who

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-48830246253837025942007-08-22T16:56:00.000-04:002007-08-22T17:37:03.750-04:00

When Brad Abelow, the state treasurer, met with the Press editorial board Tuesday, we expected the type of discussion that yielded the front-page story "Corzine plan for toll hikes still evolving; Abelow: Don't expect to see it before election.''But what we didn't expect was a public official with a gift for one liners:- "It's a game of inches,'' referring to efforts to trim state spending. The

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-54925767032647227902007-08-20T14:52:00.000-04:002007-08-20T16:10:42.252-04:00

I'm turned off by the polls that report Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who is 83, is too old to run for re-election or be re-elected next year. That's like saying Tony Bennett, 81, is too old to cut a CD or that Roger Clemens is too old to play baseball at 45.It's not age but ability that counts. If Bennett couldn't carry a tune anymore, he couldn't get a record label to distribute his songs. If Clemens

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-15452566492436622162007-08-16T13:46:00.000-04:002007-08-16T13:53:57.493-04:00

State Treasurer Bradley Abelow, who next month will become Gov. Corzine's chief of staff, is meeting with Press editorial board Tuesday afternoon. The agenda will include the state of the state's finances, the proposed monetization of assets and his new role as the governor's chief adviser.We would like to bring your questions to the table. Please send them using this space or via e-mail to me at

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-39350321716075987612007-08-14T09:49:00.000-04:002007-08-14T10:09:53.843-04:00

I've become a big believer in E-ZPass, not only for toll roads and bridges but extended to paid parking or other conveniences. I'm no Bible thumper, but my sense of morality means I have no patience for philanderers. But I'm not so sure we should link the two.The Associated Press reported the other day that E-ZPass and other electronic toll collection systems are being used to prove infidelity.

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-46444861802236047422007-08-08T17:44:00.000-04:002007-08-09T08:53:12.853-04:00

All news is local, but it doesn't always touch your life. Ordinarily I wouldn't pay much attention to news of a private plane crash in Sitka, Alaska, that killed four people. Sad, but there's so much other sad news. But today I did because it was only two weeks ago that I was visiting the former Russian capital of Alaska as part of my cruise-land tour of Alaska. I walked around the downtown area

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-72789833632400075972007-08-06T20:33:00.000-04:002007-08-06T20:50:30.956-04:00

I'm a big believer in vacations. It's really important to get away - physically,mentally, emotionally - from work to, as the cliche goes, recharge. I can't unwind by just staying at home, so I've got to go somewhere.Somewhere this summer was Alaska, by cruise ship and then by train through Denail National Park. Multi-colored glaciers, lush rainforests, totem pole parks, Alaska Indian villages,

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-71586839313877420002007-07-13T15:45:00.000-04:002007-07-13T18:29:25.701-04:00

The saga of Miss New Jersey's somewhat racy photos and the failed blackmail attempt to have her bounced from the Miss America pageant will fade from the public eye soon enough. Oh, it would be nice to know who thinks so little of Amy Polumbo of Howell to send the telltale photos to pageant officials. But in the long run, it's no big deal.What this episode did expose is the pervasivenss of social

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22250363.post-40319541888161422522007-07-11T15:39:00.000-04:002007-07-11T16:59:43.549-04:00

How must pain must a widow endure? Bear with us. Elizabeth Bernoskie's husband, a Rahway police officer, was slain on duty in 1958. Four decades later, someone was finally charged with his murder: Robert Zarinsky, in prison for the murder of a 17-year-old Atlantic Highlands girl in 1969. Zarinsky was linked to the Bernoskie murder by his sister, who said Zarinsky and a cousin said they killed a

Larry Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03463172294444407802noreply@blogger.com4