Inaugural podcast in the Middle Chamber Books podcast series. An interview with Joe DiStefano of the Philadelphia Inquirer, author of COMCASTed: How Ralph and Brian Roberts Took Over America's TV, One Deal at a Time.

CHERRY HILL, NJ -- December 18, 2005 -- Just a week before the beginning of Hanukkah, Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill, N.J., the largest Reform synagogue in New Jersey, has broken the world’s record for dreidel spinning, with 541 dreidels spun simultaneously for at least ten seconds. This is an audio news release from the event. Stereo MP3 audio file, 1:45 length, standard outcue. Radio stations are welcome to use this audio report. Please email steve@lubetkin.net with broadcast usage report. Background Information According to the Guinness Book of World’s Records, the previous world’s record of 535 people simultaneously spinning dreidels was set by University of Maryland Hillel in 1999. Today’s dreidel spin record involved 578 participants, including – in an ecumenical demonstration of interfaith cooperation -- a contingent of students from Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, a private Catholic school in Pennsauken. “We are absolutely thrilled that we’ve broken the world’s record for dreidel spinning,? said Rabbi Debbie Cohen, director of life long learning at the synagogue and organizer of the world record dreidel spin. “More importantly, we gave members of our temple and the surrounding community an exciting, fun opportunity to come together in a playful way and get to know our synagogue a little better.? The dreidel spin world record is subject to acceptance by the Guinness editors. The final count was supervised by Harry Platt, a councilman and former mayor of Voorhees, and Steven Burkett, a member of M’kor Shalom Synagogue in Cherry Hill and immediate past president of the regional council of the Union for Reform Judaism. Founded in Cherry Hill (then Delaware Township) in 1950, Temple Emanuel, a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, serves some 1,000 families from Camden, Gloucester and Burlington Counties. # # # #

To kick off its community Hanukkah celebration, Temple Emanuel, the largest Reform synagogue in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, will attempt to break the world's record for the most dreidels spinning simultaneously on Sunday December 18 at 1pm. The current record, according to Guiness Book of World's Records, is 535 dreidels, and is held by the Hillel Club at the University of Maryland. Rabbi Debbie Cohen, director of life long learning at the synagogue, came up with the idea for the dreidel spin. In this audio news release, Rabbi Cohen explains the world record attempt. Correspondent Steve Lubetkin (loo BEHT kin), stereo MP3 file, 1:45, standard outcue over children singing the "Dreidel Song." This audio file is cleared for use on radio programs.

José Avila III, a young computer programmer from California, designed furniture made from overnight delivery boxes. FedEx didn't think it was very funny. Hear more in this podcast interview. (Posted here to complete the CompuSchmooze Podcast archives at Libsyn.com) Podcast interview with José Avila. (18.77 mb stereo MP3 file, 13:40 mins.) Theme Music: "Katonah," from Tone Matrix, podcast friendly music via PodcastNYC.com

Dr. Steven Dinero, Philadelphia University

Dr. Steven Dinero, a professor of human geography at Philadelphia University, attended the World Summit on the Information Society last month in Tunisia. He's our guest on the CompuSchmooze^TM podcast this week. Download the podcast file here (34.1 mb stereo MP3 file, 24:50 length).

NJBankers Podcast #1: Forecast 2006 Recorded Thursday, December 1, 2005 (163.3 mb mono MP3 file, 1:58:55)

What direction will New Jersey's economy take in 2006? What effect will our new governor have on the business climate?

Who better to answer these and other questions than the head of the NJ State Chamber of Commerce, the Chief Examiner for the New Jersey Deparment of Banking and Insurance and the Chairman of the NJ Council of Economic Advisors?

Now, as a benefit of your NJBankers Membership, listen to the entire program in this first of a series of podcast recordings, produced for NJBankers by Lubetkin & Co. Communications LLC of Cherry Hill, NJ (www.lubetkin.net).

Speakers

Thomas A. Bracken
President & CEO, Sun Bancorp, Inc.


Mr. Bracken began his banking career with New Jersey National Bank in 1969. He was named Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking in 1975, and retained that position through CoreStates' acquisition of New Jersey National Bank. In 1993, Mr. Bracken was named President of CoreStates/New Jersey National Bank and in 1998, following the CoreStates merger with First Union Bank, he was appointed Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial and Government Banking for New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. In May of 2000, Mr. Bracken was named Executive Director of First Union's Public Sector Group. Tom currently is the Chairman of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Joseph J. Seneca
University Professor, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy


Dr. Seneca is Chairman of the New Jersey Council of Economic Advisors. The Council prepares semiannual economic outlooks and advises the Governor and Legislature on economic policy and economic development. He has taught at all levels of instruction throughout his career at Rutgers and has received numerous awards for exemplary teaching and contributions to public service. Dr. Seneca is the author of numerous articles, reports and books on economic policy, public finance, environmental economics and state economic development. He was named the 2002 Educator of the Year by the Research and Development Council of New Jersey.

Janine J. Akey
Chief Examiner, NJ Department of Banking & Insurance


Mrs. Akey has served as the Chief Examiner of the Division of Banking since October 1989. As Chief Examiner, Mrs. Akey is responsible for the examination and supervision program for all State chartered commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies and holding companies for the State chartered institutions. Mrs. Akey has also served as the Secretary to the Bank Advisory Board since 1994.