I must have spent close to $200 on hands-free devices for use with my cell phones over the last couple of years and for one reason or another after a week or two I would stop using them while driving, even though it was against the law and not very safe. However when I shelled out $25 Thursday for a hands-free earbud I did so with the knowledge that this time I would use it on a regular basis. That’s because as of tomorrow things will change for those who chat on hand-held cell phones while driving in New Jersey.
When the current law went into effect in 2004 police could only issue you a ticket if they were stopping you for another reason and to be honest it wasn’t much of a deterrent and not enforced all that much. However the game changes Saturday when a revised law gives police the authority to stop drivers for using their cell phone without another infraction and issue a summons which carries a $100 to $250 fine with no points. Also added to the new legislation is a ban on text-messaging on a cell phone while driving which will also be subject to a fine.
There are exceptions to the new law but they are few. Drivers can use a hand-held cell phone to report a drunken driver, road hazards and other illegal activity on the roads. Police and other emergency officials are also allowed to use hand-held cell phones for official use only but of course who is going to enforce that.
This is all part of the on-going effort to curb driver distractions which can and do lead to accidents. The goal is to have people not use their phones while driving at all or at least use a hand-free device which is legal for all drivers. Many people have purchased those portable Bluetooth devices that attach to your ear and they seem the best alternative although I just don’t like them so I’ll stick with the earbud for now. Once you get used to them they’re not bad although often the person on the other end says you don’t sound very clear. However that’s a small price to pay and better than getting a fine for at least $100.
It will be interesting to see if the new law becomes a deterrent to what’s become a major problem. Cell phone retailers tell me they have not seen a huge increase in sales this week for the hand-free devices and it all comes down to enforcement. If police stop drivers and write tickets than the public will respond just like when seat-belt laws first went into effect.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
A Useful Website
You hear about web sites all the time…in some cases they have replaced phone numbers as the way to contact a company or business. Many web sites are ones we use for entertainment and some provide useful information. Free Rice.com is one that is entertaining, informative and more than that helping with one of the biggest problems in the world today…feeding the hungry.
Free Rice.com is actually an on-line game that was created by a computer programmer from Indiana to help his son improve his vocabulary for the SAT. John Breen is also an anti-poverty activist who wanted to use his game to make people aware of the world-wide problems of feeding the hungry.
How it works is that when you go on the site you are greeted with a word and four choices of what is the correct definition. If you make the correct pick than the cash equivalent of 20 grains of rice is donated to the United Nations World Food Program with the rice paid for by advertisers on the site. There is a database of thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty and more words are being added. As you make correct answers then you get harder words and levels…there are 55 but rarely does anyone get above level 48. The idea is that people, especially teenagers will come across words they’ve never seen and by playing the game improve their vocabulary which should help them when they take the SAT. Truthfully the game is a help to anyone looking to improve their ability to speak, read, comprehend and communicate.
FreeRice.com only began this past October and has been a huge success, attracting about half a million visitors each day. Players have helped donate more than 20 billion grains of rice, which is enough to feed almost a million people for one day. The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program, the world’s largest food aid agency and one that works with over 1000 other organizations in over 75 countries.
So why not challenge yourself by checking out this site and playing the game which helps you and others. Here’s an example:
The word is determinate and the choices are fixed, bright, drowsy or tricky.
If you said tricky you are correct and 20 grains of rice were just donated.
FreeRice.com…a web site and game that makes a difference.
Free Rice.com is actually an on-line game that was created by a computer programmer from Indiana to help his son improve his vocabulary for the SAT. John Breen is also an anti-poverty activist who wanted to use his game to make people aware of the world-wide problems of feeding the hungry.
How it works is that when you go on the site you are greeted with a word and four choices of what is the correct definition. If you make the correct pick than the cash equivalent of 20 grains of rice is donated to the United Nations World Food Program with the rice paid for by advertisers on the site. There is a database of thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty and more words are being added. As you make correct answers then you get harder words and levels…there are 55 but rarely does anyone get above level 48. The idea is that people, especially teenagers will come across words they’ve never seen and by playing the game improve their vocabulary which should help them when they take the SAT. Truthfully the game is a help to anyone looking to improve their ability to speak, read, comprehend and communicate.
FreeRice.com only began this past October and has been a huge success, attracting about half a million visitors each day. Players have helped donate more than 20 billion grains of rice, which is enough to feed almost a million people for one day. The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program, the world’s largest food aid agency and one that works with over 1000 other organizations in over 75 countries.
So why not challenge yourself by checking out this site and playing the game which helps you and others. Here’s an example:
The word is determinate and the choices are fixed, bright, drowsy or tricky.
If you said tricky you are correct and 20 grains of rice were just donated.
FreeRice.com…a web site and game that makes a difference.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Nobody has asked my opinion but...
If I were handicapping the 2009 Governors race in New Jersey I’d make Jon Corzine the heavy favorite. Sure the current Governor has a low approval rating right now and the state is in financial chaos but tell me who would beat him in a re-election bid? Corzine still has the unions on his side…at least for now and the Republicans have no high-profile candidate on the horizon.
Plus 2009 is a long way off and a lot can happen.
The only way John McCain can get elected President of the United States this November is to appear younger and he can at least make strides by not dressing like an old man. Somebody in the McCain camp has to tell him to stop wearing those sweaters under his suit. Not only does it bulk him up but he looks about 80 and we all know appearance comes into play especially when one of the knocks against McCain is his age.
It’s time to wonder about the direction of the Monmouth University Men’s basketball program. The Hawks are going to suffer their second straight losing season and just Tuesday their leading scorer Jhamar Youngblood announced he is leaving the team and will transfer to another school. Head coach Dave Calloway is a former Monmouth player who has had success
but I don’t get a sense that there’s a lot of excitement over the program.
Monmouth will be moving into a new basketball facility in a couple of years and they will need to put a better product on the court if they want to fill it up.
Toms River is without question the capital of high school sports in New Jersey. This time of year thousands to people come from all across the state for basketball and wrestling at the Ritacco Center and the Bennett Indoor Complex just completed a busy and productive indoor track campaign. These visitors are also good for the local economy as some stay in local hotels and certainly spend money in local restaurants and retail stores.
Plus 2009 is a long way off and a lot can happen.
The only way John McCain can get elected President of the United States this November is to appear younger and he can at least make strides by not dressing like an old man. Somebody in the McCain camp has to tell him to stop wearing those sweaters under his suit. Not only does it bulk him up but he looks about 80 and we all know appearance comes into play especially when one of the knocks against McCain is his age.
It’s time to wonder about the direction of the Monmouth University Men’s basketball program. The Hawks are going to suffer their second straight losing season and just Tuesday their leading scorer Jhamar Youngblood announced he is leaving the team and will transfer to another school. Head coach Dave Calloway is a former Monmouth player who has had success
but I don’t get a sense that there’s a lot of excitement over the program.
Monmouth will be moving into a new basketball facility in a couple of years and they will need to put a better product on the court if they want to fill it up.
Toms River is without question the capital of high school sports in New Jersey. This time of year thousands to people come from all across the state for basketball and wrestling at the Ritacco Center and the Bennett Indoor Complex just completed a busy and productive indoor track campaign. These visitors are also good for the local economy as some stay in local hotels and certainly spend money in local restaurants and retail stores.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
State Tournaments
If you check out tonight’s high school sports schedule you’ll find there are state tournament basketball games and the preliminary round of the Region 6 wrestling tournament. This is the time of year when the best athletes and teams are pitted against one another for some of their sports biggest prizes….Shore Conference and State Championships.
There’s another event on tap for tonight of a very different kind and just the fact that it’s being held is something to celebrate. Woodlake County Club in Lakewood is the site of a kickoff event and fundraiser for the newly-established Ocean & Monmouth County Challenger Sports League which beginning in September will provide high school students with severe disabilities the chance to play sports and represent their schools.
There’s a chance you’ve heard of Challenger leagues before but that’s usually associated with Little League Baseball or youth soccer…this new endeavor will enable high school athletes to compete against other schools wearing the same uniforms and colors of varsity athletes.
The Ocean & Monmouth County Challenger League is partnering with the Ocean County Council PTA to provide disabled athletes the opportunity to play flag football, soccer, basketball and baseball during the 2008-09 school year. Joseph DiPietro, an assistant Principal at Southern Regional High School and the school’s autistic program coordinator, will serve as Commissioner of the Challenger League. Southern is one of 13 high schools from Ocean County who will be participating beginning in the fall as will
all three Toms River schools, both high schools in Brick and Jackson, Barnegat, Central Regional, Lakewood, Pinelands and Point Boro.
Of course with anything like this money is a crucial factor and the goal is to raise funds through events like tonight’s kickoff as well as donations and grants so that it will not cost the schools any money to take part. For information on the league and how you can help you can call Joe DiPietro at
(609) 597-5573 or visit their web site at www.highschoolchallengerleague.com.
There’s another event on tap for tonight of a very different kind and just the fact that it’s being held is something to celebrate. Woodlake County Club in Lakewood is the site of a kickoff event and fundraiser for the newly-established Ocean & Monmouth County Challenger Sports League which beginning in September will provide high school students with severe disabilities the chance to play sports and represent their schools.
There’s a chance you’ve heard of Challenger leagues before but that’s usually associated with Little League Baseball or youth soccer…this new endeavor will enable high school athletes to compete against other schools wearing the same uniforms and colors of varsity athletes.
The Ocean & Monmouth County Challenger League is partnering with the Ocean County Council PTA to provide disabled athletes the opportunity to play flag football, soccer, basketball and baseball during the 2008-09 school year. Joseph DiPietro, an assistant Principal at Southern Regional High School and the school’s autistic program coordinator, will serve as Commissioner of the Challenger League. Southern is one of 13 high schools from Ocean County who will be participating beginning in the fall as will
all three Toms River schools, both high schools in Brick and Jackson, Barnegat, Central Regional, Lakewood, Pinelands and Point Boro.
Of course with anything like this money is a crucial factor and the goal is to raise funds through events like tonight’s kickoff as well as donations and grants so that it will not cost the schools any money to take part. For information on the league and how you can help you can call Joe DiPietro at
(609) 597-5573 or visit their web site at www.highschoolchallengerleague.com.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Weekend Wrap-up
A little of this and a little of that on the final Monday of February:
Don’t ask me why but I stayed up until 11:45 last night to watch the conclusion of the Academy Awards, even though I had little interest in most of the categories. I was delighted to see that “Freeheld” won the Oscar for
Documentary Short Subject…that’s the film about the struggles of Lt. Laurel Hester of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to leave her pension to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Hester eventually won that fight before losing her battle against cancer in 2006. Director Cynthia Wade and Producer Vanessa Roth received their Oscars from Tom Hanks and praised Hester and Andree, who was shown in the audience. The 38-minute movie has won several awards and is being shown in screenings around the country. It will be screened at the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park from April 4-6.
Speaking of the movies…caught “Vantage Point” this weekend. Very good cast including Dennis Quad and Forrest Whittaker but not quite as good as I expected…maybe because I got fooled by the coming attractions. Still a better-than-average drama which will keep your attention.
For the second time in the last three years Monsignor Donovan lost in the finals of the Shore Conference Boys Basketball Tournament but not because of lack of effort. The Griffins fell to Neptune Saturday night in front of a packed house at the Poland Spring Arena in the Ritacco Center. In the loss senior forward Kyle Milana stood tall as he’s done for most of his four-year career at Donovan. Milana scored a game-high 22 points against the Scarlet Fliers, who won their 20th tournament title and first since 2002. The Griffins now turn their attention to the NJSIAA Tournament where they will host CBA in a first-round game tomorrow night.
The Ocean County College Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams open Region 19 Division III Tournament play this week with games in Toms River. The second-seeded Viking men host Cumberland tonight at OCC while the 4th seeded women are home Tuesday against Middlesex. Both games tip off at 7pm and admission is free.
Don’t ask me why but I stayed up until 11:45 last night to watch the conclusion of the Academy Awards, even though I had little interest in most of the categories. I was delighted to see that “Freeheld” won the Oscar for
Documentary Short Subject…that’s the film about the struggles of Lt. Laurel Hester of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to leave her pension to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Hester eventually won that fight before losing her battle against cancer in 2006. Director Cynthia Wade and Producer Vanessa Roth received their Oscars from Tom Hanks and praised Hester and Andree, who was shown in the audience. The 38-minute movie has won several awards and is being shown in screenings around the country. It will be screened at the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park from April 4-6.
Speaking of the movies…caught “Vantage Point” this weekend. Very good cast including Dennis Quad and Forrest Whittaker but not quite as good as I expected…maybe because I got fooled by the coming attractions. Still a better-than-average drama which will keep your attention.
For the second time in the last three years Monsignor Donovan lost in the finals of the Shore Conference Boys Basketball Tournament but not because of lack of effort. The Griffins fell to Neptune Saturday night in front of a packed house at the Poland Spring Arena in the Ritacco Center. In the loss senior forward Kyle Milana stood tall as he’s done for most of his four-year career at Donovan. Milana scored a game-high 22 points against the Scarlet Fliers, who won their 20th tournament title and first since 2002. The Griffins now turn their attention to the NJSIAA Tournament where they will host CBA in a first-round game tomorrow night.
The Ocean County College Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams open Region 19 Division III Tournament play this week with games in Toms River. The second-seeded Viking men host Cumberland tonight at OCC while the 4th seeded women are home Tuesday against Middlesex. Both games tip off at 7pm and admission is free.
Friday, February 22, 2008
High School Season Ends
I couldn’t even guess as to the number of high school basketball games I’ve seen in my lifetime but its well over a thousand and I don’t remember a more dramatic ending than the one which took place last night in the semifinals of the Shore Conference Tournament at the Ritacco Center. With 1.5 seconds left in overtime Monsignor Donovan trailed Colts Neck 53-51 and had just called their final time out to set up a play. What head coach Michael Kearney had diagrammed during that time-out was not open so Tim Price inbounded the ball to 6’4 senior Tom Carter just a few steps from half court. With no time to do anything Carter caught the ball and chucked it and after the buzzer sounded it swished through the net to give Donovan a most improbable 54-53 victory and set off a wild celebration. The joy you feel for the Griffins can only be matched by the agony for the Cougars, who had victory snatched from them on a prayer….that, was answered.
Now the Griffins must come down to earth and get ready for Saturday night’s championship game against the shore’s best team…Neptune. The Scarlet Fliers cruised into the final with a 15-point win over Monmouth Regional in the other semifinal. Neptune by the way beat Mon Don 69-66 in a regular season game earlier this month in Toms River.
Saturday’s final at 7:30 will be broadcast live on the Shore Sports Network (1160/310AM) as will the girls championship game between Colts Neck and Red Bank Catholic (5pm) at the Ritacco Center.
The Lakewood BlueClaws will host their annual job fair Saturday from 9am-2pm at FirstEnergy Park. Anyone interested in a part-time job to work on the game-day staff can fill out an application and interview on the spot tomorrow. Applicants must be at least 16-years old.
The Jackson Memorial High School Athletic Department will hold their Winter Sports Night on Monday, March 17th at 6:30 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. The ceremony is for varsity letter winners and their parents only and the evening will include the induction of Rachel Goodale and Donna Maher into the Jaguars Athletic Hall of Fame.
Now the Griffins must come down to earth and get ready for Saturday night’s championship game against the shore’s best team…Neptune. The Scarlet Fliers cruised into the final with a 15-point win over Monmouth Regional in the other semifinal. Neptune by the way beat Mon Don 69-66 in a regular season game earlier this month in Toms River.
Saturday’s final at 7:30 will be broadcast live on the Shore Sports Network (1160/310AM) as will the girls championship game between Colts Neck and Red Bank Catholic (5pm) at the Ritacco Center.
The Lakewood BlueClaws will host their annual job fair Saturday from 9am-2pm at FirstEnergy Park. Anyone interested in a part-time job to work on the game-day staff can fill out an application and interview on the spot tomorrow. Applicants must be at least 16-years old.
The Jackson Memorial High School Athletic Department will hold their Winter Sports Night on Monday, March 17th at 6:30 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. The ceremony is for varsity letter winners and their parents only and the evening will include the induction of Rachel Goodale and Donna Maher into the Jaguars Athletic Hall of Fame.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
New Rules For 2008
I don’t want to be accused of plagiarism like a certain presidential candidate so I’ll come right out and say what you’re about to hear is being stolen from the noted comedian and philosopher George Carlin. It’s an update of a comic bit he did a few years ago about the rules that applied to that time…these are now his new rules for 2008. They’ve been edited a bit by necessity.
(New Rules)
* No more gift registries. They used for be just for weddings but now
they’re for babies, new homes…even graduation from rehab. Picking
out stuff you want and having other people buy it for you is not gift
giving…it’s just a version of looting.
* Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com. There’s a reason
you don’t talk to people for 25 years….because you don’t like them.
Besides I already know what the captain of the football team is doing
these days…mowing my lawn.
* Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here’s how much men care about
your eyebrows. Do you have two of them? Good, we’re done.
* I’m not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card,
entering my PIN number, pressing “enter”, verifying the amount,
pressing “no” I don’t wash cash back and hitting “enter” again the kid
who’s supposed to be waiting on me is eating my candy bar.
* If you’re going to make movies based on lousy old TV shows then
you need to give everyone in the theatre a remote so we can see what’s
playing on other screens. Remember the reason something was a TV
show in the first place is that the idea wasn’t good enough for a movie.
* When I ask how old your toddler is, I don’t need to hear “27 months”
when he’s two will do just fine.
* If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than
minimum wage then don’t pierce or tattoo every piece of flesh on your body. If you do then plan your future around saying, “Do you want fries with that?”
· The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the schmuck. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a “decaf grandee, half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice with
one nutri-sweet…..oooh you’re a huge schmuck.
(New Rules)
* No more gift registries. They used for be just for weddings but now
they’re for babies, new homes…even graduation from rehab. Picking
out stuff you want and having other people buy it for you is not gift
giving…it’s just a version of looting.
* Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com. There’s a reason
you don’t talk to people for 25 years….because you don’t like them.
Besides I already know what the captain of the football team is doing
these days…mowing my lawn.
* Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here’s how much men care about
your eyebrows. Do you have two of them? Good, we’re done.
* I’m not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card,
entering my PIN number, pressing “enter”, verifying the amount,
pressing “no” I don’t wash cash back and hitting “enter” again the kid
who’s supposed to be waiting on me is eating my candy bar.
* If you’re going to make movies based on lousy old TV shows then
you need to give everyone in the theatre a remote so we can see what’s
playing on other screens. Remember the reason something was a TV
show in the first place is that the idea wasn’t good enough for a movie.
* When I ask how old your toddler is, I don’t need to hear “27 months”
when he’s two will do just fine.
* If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than
minimum wage then don’t pierce or tattoo every piece of flesh on your body. If you do then plan your future around saying, “Do you want fries with that?”
· The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the schmuck. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a “decaf grandee, half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice with
one nutri-sweet…..oooh you’re a huge schmuck.
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