CohenConnect.com, Honest, accurate & outspoken: Lenny's thoughts on this world of ours
"These are the times to remember" (Billy Joel lyrics pluralized)
The phrase “Digital First” is nothing new. Managers in TV station news departments have been saying it for years, but they really hadn’t practiced what it means. Years ago, news directors thought viewers getting information sooner would not feel the need to watch TV newscasts, which was where the money was made and so was … Continue reading Adding my own few points to Nexstar’s ‘Digital First’ strategy
Vacation time is up. We’re into May and I haven’t written a “real blog post” for you in a month and a half, since mid-March. I plan to explain “real blog post” tomorrow but if you can’t wait, see the new material to read. It’s in the menu on the right side of this page … Continue reading Thinking about religion, belief and recent violence
First off, yes, I may be a day late, but this is definitely not a dollar short! I wanted to make sure this post was as perfect as I could make it, like I do with all others. Of course, it’s just a coincidence that Martin Luther King Day, which commemorates the birthday of the … Continue reading Martin Luther King Day, a victim of the (official) Women’s March
It’s always good to be remembered, and hopefully being your last new year’s message of the year will keep some of my thoughts on your minds. (I’d be embarrassed to post something like this more than a week late, even by a few minutes!) Let me start with the most important: that I became an … Continue reading Odds, ends and new beginnings
Sometimes, interesting things happen when you read friends’ Facebook pages. I’m not talking about going to look on purpose, which I’ve done before. I’m just referring to seeing something on your news feed and clicking on it. That got me, as the title clearly says, banned from Facebook pages twice in 2 days! The one … Continue reading Banned from Facebook pages twice in 2 days!
My interest started when I was looking at my Facebook feed over the weekend and saw this post from a former coworker. Obviously, we’re Facebook friends. Otherwise, his post wouldn't have come up. He’s a former Marine. We’d always worked well together and even though he is the most right-wing person I know, he’d never … Continue reading Exposing hate, close to home (as if acceptable anywhere)
It was 20 years ago tonight. Not exactly. It was actually four days off, on Nov. 25, but what really matters is it was the night before Thanksgiving in 1998. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuVRhuk8kmQ I had been producing the 11pm news at CBS affiliate WFSB-3 in Connecticut. It was my last newscast there, before moving to Philadelphia – … Continue reading The end of an era, and beginning of this one (Part A of this one)
Several times a year, before elections, a man in Florida emails me about who to support in elections down there. The goal is to receive money (Isn’t that everyone’s?) for private schools. In this case, it’s Jewish religious schools. And that’s despite public schools being free for everyone – Jews too – and paid for … Continue reading The case against us all paying for private schools
It’s a happy moment at CohenConnect.com. (Online definition of moment: “a very brief period of time.” The italics are mine.) September’s blog numbers were high with more than a thousand views, despite the fact I only published four posts. (I know. I have to do better on that. And I can’t complain about the time, but … Continue reading News starting out good but going downhill fast
I try not to go more than a week without posting something. Unfortunately, it has been 11 days dues to holidays that won’t be letting up anytime soon, and also my IT support specialist classes. (Last night, I finished Course 2, Week 1, out of 5 courses.) I just don’t like blogs that give a … Continue reading Eric Trump and his shekels
I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure you’ve had a busy week, between getting used to having your kids in school or planning what to do on this long holiday weekend. Sorry for the folks in “sunny Florida” with plans ruined while dealing with Tropical Storm Gordon. (But you're welcome for this souvenir to help … Continue reading Labor Day weekend leftovers
The first thing I have to say is this blog was planned for today. It doesn't have anything to do with Wednesday's Supreme Court decision on public unions. Instead, it has to do with the calendar. The reason, as you see in the picture, is that my Florida teaching certificate expires tomorrow and since tomorrow will … Continue reading Certification expiring, definitely done teaching
Father's Day is upon us again and I wanted to get this post out before the holiday because I just read a lot of interesting things about how one family celebrates it. Actually, it's the family of a person who's pretty famous: Mayim Bialik. It used to be things seemed easier in people's lives. (Notice … Continue reading Making your Father’s Day happier, no matter your situation
Aug. 26, 2018 UPDATE: Grave marker raised and leveled, in early August. I may be back in a few weeks. I don't go on many vacations and didn't plan to write a blog on this one, but the most unusual thing happened while trying to visit my grandfather's grave at the cemetery in Royal Oak, Michigan. … Continue reading Grave situation for hours outside Detroit
First, I want to thank you for all your reading. This is my 99th blog and so far there have been more than 14,100 page views. Dozens of you are reading and clicking more than once, even when I don't post anything, and the numbers have really been going up. Reading above what's above would good … Continue reading Follow-Up Friday, plus David Hogg defeats Publix
First, happy Mother's Day to everyone to whom that applies. I hope you're having a great day! Second, today is also the celebration of Yom Yerushalayim, or Jerusalem Day. It's the Hebrew anniversary of when the Israelis recaptured the eastern/holy part of the city in the Six-Day War of 1967. It's where no Arab country's leader … Continue reading In defense: The good Facebook can do when used by the right people
It's nice when Americans exercise their First Amendment rights (freedom of religion, speech, the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances) with good intentions, and that should be encouraged. Last Saturday, many in the country were shocked after March for Our Lives rallies were … Continue reading Tiffany Trump’s trouble, what unions could do to Amazon and the media
People who know me can never, ever say I’m not loyal to people I like and respect. You’ll see that in a moment, along with an example of the opposite. (Is your mouth watering yet?) Yesterday, one of Philadelphia’s daily newspapers published an article called “Is the morning news format that fuels Mike Jerrick's 'weird … Continue reading Be nicer to Mike Jerrick, and other thoughts on what’s making news
Surprisingly, I haven't seen this reported at all by South Florida media. Yes, they’re still consumed and reeling from the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day, but this involves THEM, darnit, and they know it. There was nothing in the Miami-Herald, Sun-Sentinel, or New Times about it, nor TV stations WSVN … Continue reading WSVN without Fox? It’s possible if….
How many of you watched the Super Bowl this year? Of course, in Philadelphia, that's a loaded question with the underdog Eagles in the game and beating the seemingly perennial winners, the New England Patriots. Same thing in New England. Their team was in the Super Bowl and they don't get sick of Tom Brady … Continue reading Got cable, satellite? You’ll foot the bill for Fox’s Thursday Night Football
I didn’t plan on writing two blogs in two days completely from scratch, but the news calls for it. Yesterday, around this time, I was cramming on another blog and then dragged out even though I couldn’t care less about St. Valentine’s Day. Despite personal protests as long as I can remember, it’s not my … Continue reading Killing kids and desecrating the name of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
I got up extremely early this morning to take Pedro to work, since he didn’t get the holiday off. Soon after getting home, I noticed my Facebook friend Mark Segal -- founder, owner and publisher of the renowned Philadelphia Gay News -- had posted his column from last week. I'm two weeks behind in reading. … Continue reading More details on Israel after the gay paper
Most of you know I was a web producer for the Fox station in Philadelphia, but fewer of you know I haven't worked there since last August. The reasons are still to be discussed, and probably won't be public. However, I've come across some interesting and incorrect content from that station while working on my … Continue reading The news where I used to work: Unbelievable!
There's always a lot at stake at an NFL football game but this year, the league decided to break its own rules to avoid a ratings disaster for the last game of the season, on New Year's Eve. The National Football League is trying to save face after already having lower ratings than last year, … Continue reading Rules? NFL throws out ratings book for holiday weekend finale
No waiting until Christmas on Monday. Comcast, you obviously consider yourself too powerful. Today, your hard-earned rate hikes take effect. Santa says you've been such a good company this year, only getting me concerned and wasting my time by forgetting when my Xfinity introductory offer ends. Does anyone reading this have suggestions for me for … Continue reading Today, Merry Christmas to Comcast! You’re welcome!
Philadelphia street signs are different than in much of the country. For example, there’s no downtown. Locals call that part Center City. If you’re driving, and I wouldn’t suggest tourists do, look for Central Philadelphia. Jan. 28, 2017: On I-676 (the Vine Street Expressway), just past the Broad Street “Central Philadelphia” sign. I was in … Continue reading Special streets, signs in the City of Brotherly Love (and Sisterly Affection)
On Facebook? You're probably signed up for a lesson on mailing a letter, paid for by the U.S. government, like the one above. I was a little out of it, last Thursday, told I was sounding stuffy, so I didn't do much other than read. Part of that time was on Facebook rather than anything … Continue reading Lessons on addressing, our government’s gift to you!
I don't get shocked too much anymore. Maybe that's from age, or having done a lot of things in a lot of places. Maybe it’s from having been in the news and teaching fields, where you see and experience a lot. But going through the weekly ads this week got me. I've never seen “non-Kosher” … Continue reading Beating Welch’s un-kosher coupon policy
It took way too long for Mother Nature, the holiday season and me, but it finally started feeling like winter. Monday, Jan. 4, was the first snowfall of the season. It wasn’t much, at least in Bristol. There was one burst for a few minutes. (You see the view from the newsroom. That's the Bristol train … Continue reading Getting into the season
The holidays are always a busy time. Finishing a major construction project while working everyday meant chaos and a delayed post. So here it is, the last steps to the final product! By Friday, way back on Dec. 18, the bath tub was finally installed. Bob the contractor could finish what was delayed. Saturday, Dec. … Continue reading All done! New year, new bathroom
It's now a week since the bathroom construction started. It would've been done by now if BathFitter had ordered the right bath tub, or realized they made the mistake because they had weeks to do so. The contractor seems to be making good progress. Unfortunately for him, he can't finish up until the bath tub … Continue reading The one week mark
It's not the most appetizing title, but I realized you were craving pictures of the house before the first major renovation. I should also point out it's before the first major cleaning of the house. That can't come soon enough. Neither can the rest of the unpacking. Tomorrow morning, workers are going to … Continue reading Big bathroom news!
I haven't posted anything in about 3 weeks. (I also haven’t heard from you asking for a post. Unbelievable! What’s up with that?) I haven’t been relaxing at the beach. Been doing plenty of writing. Just very busy at work and home. My parents’ visit has come and gone. Went very well. Wasn't sure for … Continue reading Odds & ends from 3 weeks
This is my 22nd blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. I didn’t think I could come up with so much material. I was thinking last week’s edition would’ve been a review, an update, because I had 20 previous under my belt and so much has changed since I … Continue reading Lots of updates in a few short months
It’s April and there’s a lot of spring cleaning going on in the Tri-Cities and other places. Garry and I really aren’t doing any of it because we’ve only been here for a month and are still putting stuff I paid to move away. (Or trying to find space for it all!) But I digress. … Continue reading Spring cleaning and Passover food
Spring is often thought of as a time of renewal, the first season. I’ve had some firsts over the past week or so. Starting at home for a change, I can walk to back of the den without having to step over a box, for the first time. It’s a major accomplishment and I’m very … Continue reading A week of firsts