Allentown Named "Playful City"

According to an article at the City of Allentown website,  Allentown is one of only two communities in PA to be named a "Playful City USA Community" by KaBOOM  a non-profit organization that promotes unstructured play. 

According to KaBOOM CEO Darell Hammond: 

“Allentown took a stand and determined that the future of their community—their children—deserve a commitment to the cause of play. This is an investment in the future, not an expenditure, and cities and towns across the country can replicate initiatives from these Playful City USA Communities so that they too can bring play back into the lives of their children.”

In the article, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski  cites these two programs for city youth: SPP, a free Summer Playground Program available at most Allentown school playgrounds, and ACHIEVE, a program that partners with the Allentown School District, City Health Bureau, Wildlands Conservancy, Public Library, Fire Department, and Recycling Bureau.

My family and I are greatly looking forward to the new, handicapped-accessible, interactive, and free Destination Playground that will be built at Cedar Beach Park. This will be a great place for families from all over Allentown to meet for a common cause: our children. It's time for all the citizens of Allentown, young and old, natives and transplants, to start focusing on what brings us together, rather than on what separates us. Equal Opportunity for all. Our parks are for everyone to enjoy, even the "outsiders" who have relocated here-- as they are branded by the handful of Konstant Krankypants Kvetchers known kollectively as the "Defenders of the Parks" (wink wink) and "led" by embittered, vendetta-driven, 2005 Allentown Mayoral election loser Mike Molovinsky and his coded racist agenda.  

Oh and speaking of Cedar Beach Park, don't miss SportsFest there this weekend! 

Hooray for Allentown for being forward-thinking, for Moving Forward Together (well, most of us anyway), and for caring about our kids.

Post written by Mr. & Mrs. Dottie.

Allentown Named "Playful City"

According to an article at the City of Allentown website,  Allentown is one of only two communities in PA to be named a "Playful City USA Community" by KaBOOM  a non-profit organization that promotes unstructured play. 

According to KaBOOM CEO Darell Hammond: 

“Allentown took a stand and determined that the future of their community—their children—deserve a commitment to the cause of play. This is an investment in the future, not an expenditure, and cities and towns across the country can replicate initiatives from these Playful City USA Communities so that they too can bring play back into the lives of their children.”

In the article, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski  cites these two programs for city youth: SPP, a free Summer Playground Program available at most Allentown school playgrounds, and ACHIEVE, a program that partners with the Allentown School District, City Health Bureau, Wildlands Conservancy, Public Library, Fire Department, and Recycling Bureau.

My family and I are greatly looking forward to the new, handicapped-accessible, interactive, and free Destination Playground that will be built at Cedar Beach Park. This will be a great place for families from all over Allentown to meet for a common cause: our children. It's time for all the citizens of Allentown, young and old, natives and transplants, to start focusing on what brings us together, rather than on what separates us. Equal Opportunity for all. Our parks are for everyone to enjoy, even the "outsiders" who have relocated here-- as they are branded by the handful of Konstant Krankypants Kvetchers known kollectively as the "Defenders of the Parks" (wink wink) and "led" by embittered, vendetta-driven, 2005 Allentown Mayoral election loser Mike Molovinsky and his coded racist agenda.  

Oh and speaking of Cedar Beach Park, don't miss SportsFest there this weekend! 

Hooray for Allentown for being forward-thinking, for Moving Forward Together (well, most of us anyway), and for caring about our kids.

Post written by Mr. & Mrs. Dottie.

The New Yankee Stadium

We loved the old Yankee Stadium.

Bill’s dad took him to his first game there in 1966, an Opening Day  2-1 loss to the Tigers. Bill shot 8mm home movies of Mickey Mantle Day at “The Stadium,” June 8, 1969. 

The New York Yankees won 39 American League Pennants and an all sports-leading 26 World Series Championships at Yankee Stadium. History- and aura-wise, the old Yankee Stadium was the Vatican and the Mecca of ballparks. Even the Pope played there (it is common knowledge that God was a lifelong Yankee fan prior to the 2004 playoffs), although The Pontiff was greatly outshined by truly supreme talents including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, and Derek Jeter.

In 1995, beloved Yankee Paul O’Neill flipped Sheena Villa a batting practice ball in right field before a game. Actually, O’Neill pulled himself up on the right field wall and handed the ball to Sheena after Sheena had dropped O’Neill’s first two soft tosses. Sheena was a terrific dancer. Patrick Villa has some 1990’s Yankee infield dirt that was graciously scooped up for him by a groundskeeper and Patrick also has Yankee Hall of Famer Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto’s autograph on a baseball hat. On August 10, 2005, about a month shy of his 5th birthday, Gianni Villa became the youngest Villa to ever attend a game at Yankee Stadium, a tough 2-1 loss to the White Sox, and a pitcher's duel, much like his dad's first game at The Stadium. Holy Cow.  

For the last 10 years at the “old” Yankee Stadium, we had the same GREAT 3 seats for every game we attended, $45 season ticket seats via our pal Joe M. Situated a couple of rows beyond the pricier field level seats and between first base and right field, they were the perfect seats to watch home run balls sail (or rocket) into Yankee Stadium’s legendary “short porch” in right field that was designed circa 1922 with The Bambino’s Sultan of Swat swing in mind. Long-time Yankee season ticket holders like our pal Joe M were promised season ticket seats in the new Yankee Stadium with a “similar vantage point” as their old seats. But it didn’t work out that way. Joe’s now $85 seats at the new Yankee Stadium suck … real bad. They’re in the last row of the lower level, behind the foul pole, and with a roof over-head so deep and claustrophobic, you can’t see a fly ball higher than 10 feet or the fabulous gigantic HD Jumbotron in Center Field. Apparently, our pal Joe M hadn’t been spending enough money on his season tickets to merit much respect in this new Yankee Stadium. And spending is what this new Yankee Stadium is all about, it seems to us, which is why, after having attended two games there so far (both wins), we sorta hate it there.

Yeah Yeah, the new GREAT HALL  is really great and the huge Yankee player pik blow-up banners are breathtaking but geez. The House That Ruth Built was a ballpark. This new Yankee Stadium feels like a Corporate Exhibition Center. The simple joy of going to the ballpark to watch a game gets lost at this new and "improved" and overly lavish Yankee $tadium. We thought baseball was supposed to bring people together for a common interest, not separate them according to social status and elite luxury club membership. We can’t believe how many areas in the new Yankee Stadium are “off-limits” to non-high-rollers like us. Also, the dominant visual at the new Yankee Stadium is “fans” standing in MERCHANDISE and/or FOOD lines … 50-people deep … the whole freakin’ game … and paying just ludicrous prices for things-- 3 hot dogs + 1 soda = $21.50. These aren’t the Yankee fans we knew from the old ballpark. These are people with eating (and spending) disorders. And it’s sickening to see so much gluttony.

We miss the  old Yankee Stadium, the sticky floors, the easy access to the Dippin’ Dots, and the pigeons. Now, those simple pleasures have been replaced with food delivery service to your cushy-padded and wider rump-accommodating seat, flat-screen TVs everywhere, gourmet restaurants, elitist private clubs, and menacing 10” spike-spears on every overhead flat surface that prevent birds from perching. This new Yankee $tadium is too perfect, it has too many offerings, it’s too comfortable, and it tries way too hard.

TIP: Sit in the upper deck. There’s way less food and merchandise hoopla up there, no (or fewer) luxury box snobs, and the fans up there are actually watching the game. Last game there we went upstairs in the 5th inning and told an usher we wanted to use our crappy $85 tickets to sit in 3 of his vacant $25 seats and he said okay. And as soon as our normal-size rumps hit our normal-priced $25 seats, A-Rod crushed one into the left field seats! The Yanks went on to win! Mariano Rivera got the save! In the upper deck, it looks and feels like you’re at Yankee Stadium!

Photo by Gianni Villa taken from the upper deck in the new Yankee Stadium. Click on it to enlarge it. 

Post by Mr. & Mrs. Dottie.

Good Luck to Yankees Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixeira, and all the American League players, including the Boston Red Sox "players" (wink wink), in tonite's MLB All-Star Game.

The New Yankee Stadium

We loved the old Yankee Stadium.

Bill’s dad took him to his first game there in 1966, an Opening Day  2-1 loss to the Tigers. Bill shot 8mm home movies of Mickey Mantle Day at “The Stadium,” June 8, 1969. 

The New York Yankees won 39 American League Pennants and an all sports-leading 26 World Series Championships at Yankee Stadium. History- and aura-wise, the old Yankee Stadium was the Vatican and the Mecca of ballparks. Even the Pope played there (it is common knowledge that God was a lifelong Yankee fan prior to the 2004 playoffs), although The Pontiff was greatly outshined by truly supreme talents including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, and Derek Jeter.

In 1995, beloved Yankee Paul O’Neill flipped Sheena Villa a batting practice ball in right field before a game. Actually, O’Neill pulled himself up on the right field wall and handed the ball to Sheena after Sheena had dropped O’Neill’s first two soft tosses. Sheena was a terrific dancer. Patrick Villa has some 1990’s Yankee infield dirt that was graciously scooped up for him by a groundskeeper and Patrick also has Yankee Hall of Famer Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto’s autograph on a baseball hat. On August 10, 2005, about a month shy of his 5th birthday, Gianni Villa became the youngest Villa to ever attend a game at Yankee Stadium, a tough 2-1 loss to the White Sox, and a pitcher's duel, much like his dad's first game at The Stadium. Holy Cow.  

For the last 10 years at the “old” Yankee Stadium, we had the same GREAT 3 seats for every game we attended, $45 season ticket seats via our pal Joe M. Situated a couple of rows beyond the pricier field level seats and between first base and right field, they were the perfect seats to watch home run balls sail (or rocket) into Yankee Stadium’s legendary “short porch” in right field that was designed circa 1922 with The Bambino’s Sultan of Swat swing in mind. Long-time Yankee season ticket holders like our pal Joe M were promised season ticket seats in the new Yankee Stadium with a “similar vantage point” as their old seats. But it didn’t work out that way. Joe’s now $85 seats at the new Yankee Stadium suck … real bad. They’re in the last row of the lower level, behind the foul pole, and with a roof over-head so deep and claustrophobic, you can’t see a fly ball higher than 10 feet or the fabulous gigantic HD Jumbotron in Center Field. Apparently, our pal Joe M hadn’t been spending enough money on his season tickets to merit much respect in this new Yankee Stadium. And spending is what this new Yankee Stadium is all about, it seems to us, which is why, after having attended two games there so far (both wins), we sorta hate it there.

Yeah Yeah, the new GREAT HALL  is really great and the huge Yankee player pik blow-up banners are breathtaking but geez. The House That Ruth Built was a ballpark. This new Yankee Stadium feels like a Corporate Exhibition Center. The simple joy of going to the ballpark to watch a game gets lost at this new and "improved" and overly lavish Yankee $tadium. We thought baseball was supposed to bring people together for a common interest, not separate them according to social status and elite luxury club membership. We can’t believe how many areas in the new Yankee Stadium are “off-limits” to non-high-rollers like us. Also, the dominant visual at the new Yankee Stadium is “fans” standing in MERCHANDISE and/or FOOD lines … 50-people deep … the whole freakin’ game … and paying just ludicrous prices for things-- 3 hot dogs + 1 soda = $21.50. These aren’t the Yankee fans we knew from the old ballpark. These are people with eating (and spending) disorders. And it’s sickening to see so much gluttony.

We miss the  old Yankee Stadium, the sticky floors, the easy access to the Dippin’ Dots, and the pigeons. Now, those simple pleasures have been replaced with food delivery service to your cushy-padded and wider rump-accommodating seat, flat-screen TVs everywhere, gourmet restaurants, elitist private clubs, and menacing 10” spike-spears on every overhead flat surface that prevent birds from perching. This new Yankee $tadium is too perfect, it has too many offerings, it’s too comfortable, and it tries way too hard.

TIP: Sit in the upper deck. There’s way less food and merchandise hoopla up there, no (or fewer) luxury box snobs, and the fans up there are actually watching the game. Last game there we went upstairs in the 5th inning and told an usher we wanted to use our crappy $85 tickets to sit in 3 of his vacant $25 seats and he said okay. And as soon as our normal-size rumps hit our normal-priced $25 seats, A-Rod crushed one into the left field seats! The Yanks went on to win! Mariano Rivera got the save! In the upper deck, it looks and feels like you’re at Yankee Stadium!

Photo by Gianni Villa taken from the upper deck in the new Yankee Stadium. Click on it to enlarge it. 

Post by Mr. & Mrs. Dottie.

Good Luck to Yankees Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixeira, and all the American League players, including the Boston Red Sox "players" (wink wink), in tonite's MLB All-Star Game.

Racism at Philly Pool

Reading this unbelievable news has made me feel like I am living in America circa 1869 rather than 2009. Valley Swim Club in Philadelphia was paid $1,900.00 by Creative Steps Day Camp to use its pool, but when the creative campers arrived at the pool, all the white kids who were swimming there immediately exited the pool, and the black campers who had just arrived were told they had to leave. One camper overheard a parent at the pool say, "What are all these black kids doing here? I am scared they might do something to my child." John Duesler, the president of the Club said, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion of the club."

Read Article Here.

Here is Melissa Harris-Lacewell's response ...

What a bummer to read about this, after hearing the exciting news about PA Representative Patrick Murphy (D) standing up and taking the lead on getting rid of the absurd "don't ask don't tell" policy in the military to move us toward real equality for gays.

This Philly pool incident just reminds me of how far we still have to go for true equality for all Americans in America.

Racism at Philly Pool

Reading this unbelievable news has made me feel like I am living in America circa 1869 rather than 2009. Valley Swim Club in Philadelphia was paid $1,900.00 by Creative Steps Day Camp to use its pool, but when the creative campers arrived at the pool, all the white kids who were swimming there immediately exited the pool, and the black campers who had just arrived were told they had to leave. One camper overheard a parent at the pool say, "What are all these black kids doing here? I am scared they might do something to my child." John Duesler, the president of the Club said, "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion of the club."

Read Article Here.

Here is Melissa Harris-Lacewell's response ...

What a bummer to read about this, after hearing the exciting news about PA Representative Patrick Murphy (D) standing up and taking the lead on getting rid of the absurd "don't ask don't tell" policy in the military to move us toward real equality for gays.

This Philly pool incident just reminds me of how far we still have to go for true equality for all Americans in America.

Solving Autism

Several of our relatives and friends have children who have been diagnosed with some form of autism. 1 in every 150 kids has autism. There is mounting research suggesting that exposure to EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals) could be a cause of autism. Please check out this interesting article at the Huffington Post by Harvey Karp, Cracking The Autism Riddle.

Toxic EDCs are found in everyday products such as food cans, plastic water bottles, cosmetics, fire retardants found in sofas, and computers. These items are found in most American homes.

EDCs have been found to be linked to human disease, hormone related disorders, low sperm count, cancer, and many other illnesses. There is evidence that even miniscule amounts of these chemicals can disturb fetal brain development.

In 2000, a CDC (Center for Disease Control) study found that 99.9% of people tested had detectable levels of these chemicals in their bodies.

In 1996, during the Clinton administration, there was a push by pediatricians for the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to test these chemicals. The testing process had begun under Clinton, but then during the Bush administration (The Dark Ages of Science), the research was halted and its funding was cut.

To counter President Bush's efforts to ignore the health of our children, a group of dedicated pediatricians started the National Children's Study (NCS). Even though Bush refused to fund this important research, the NCS was able to continue for 8 years.

The Obama administration has committed over $3 billion to NCS research. Thankfully, scientists may soon be able to detect which chemicals could be linked to autism, and its heart-breaking mystery will start to get solved.

Solving Autism

Several of our relatives and friends have children who have been diagnosed with some form of autism. 1 in every 150 kids has autism. There is mounting research suggesting that exposure to EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals) could be a cause of autism. Please check out this interesting article at the Huffington Post by Harvey Karp, Cracking The Autism Riddle.

Toxic EDCs are found in everyday products such as food cans, plastic water bottles, cosmetics, fire retardants found in sofas, and computers. These items are found in most American homes.

EDCs have been found to be linked to human disease, hormone related disorders, low sperm count, cancer, and many other illnesses. There is evidence that even miniscule amounts of these chemicals can disturb fetal brain development.

In 2000, a CDC (Center for Disease Control) study found that 99.9% of people tested had detectable levels of these chemicals in their bodies.

In 1996, during the Clinton administration, there was a push by pediatricians for the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to test these chemicals. The testing process had begun under Clinton, but then during the Bush administration (The Dark Ages of Science), the research was halted and its funding was cut.

To counter President Bush's efforts to ignore the health of our children, a group of dedicated pediatricians started the National Children's Study (NCS). Even though Bush refused to fund this important research, the NCS was able to continue for 8 years.

The Obama administration has committed over $3 billion to NCS research. Thankfully, scientists may soon be able to detect which chemicals could be linked to autism, and its heart-breaking mystery will start to get solved.

The Al Franken Decade Begins

I first became aware of Al Franken as a political figure after reading his book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" Gotta love the way he puts Bill O'Lielly in his place. If Franken should call someone a liar on the Senate floor it will make for some interesting C-Span programming. Franken also penned a best selling book called "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot: And Other Observations" Gotta love that title. Franken is my kinda guy. Smart, funny, outspoken and honest. I never did get to hear him on Air America radio, since the radio stations in the Lehigh Valley are dominated by right wingnut talk shows. Some facts you may not know about Al Franken:

He graduated from Harvard in 1973: Political Science

He scored a perfect 800 on the SAT Math section

He won 3 Emmy Awards for his writing on Saturday Night Live

He holds strongly progressive liberal beliefs

More at this site: http://usliberals.about.com/od/senatecandidatesin2008/p/AlFranken.htm

Now that Al Franken has won and will finally take his place in the Senate, the Democrats will have a filibuster proof 60 vote-majority in the US Senate. But will that really make a difference?

Senators Kennedy and Byrd are ill, and possibly not in attendance, so that could be only 58. There are two Independents, Lieberman and Sanders, but Sanders is from Vermont and is very liberal, and has spoken out in favor of a public health care option. Lieberman leans right. So it could be only 57.

What will be the Democrats' excuse for not getting things done now? Lack of bipartisan support? Been bought off by the insurance companies and drug companies? It's time for Senators to stop being pusillanimous and pass a public universal health care option, really fight for equal rights for gays, ban assault weapons, and represent THE PEOPLE for a change, not just the campaign donors and lobbyists.

The Al Franken Decade Begins

I first became aware of Al Franken as a political figure after reading his book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" Gotta love the way he puts Bill O'Lielly in his place. If Franken should call someone a liar on the Senate floor it will make for some interesting C-Span programming. Franken also penned a best selling book called "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot: And Other Observations" Gotta love that title. Franken is my kinda guy. Smart, funny, outspoken and honest. I never did get to hear him on Air America radio, since the radio stations in the Lehigh Valley are dominated by right wingnut talk shows. Some facts you may not know about Al Franken:

He graduated from Harvard in 1973: Political Science

He scored a perfect 800 on the SAT Math section

He won 3 Emmy Awards for his writing on Saturday Night Live

He holds strongly progressive liberal beliefs

More at this site: http://usliberals.about.com/od/senatecandidatesin2008/p/AlFranken.htm

Now that Al Franken has won and will finally take his place in the Senate, the Democrats will have a filibuster proof 60 vote-majority in the US Senate. But will that really make a difference?

Senators Kennedy and Byrd are ill, and possibly not in attendance, so that could be only 58. There are two Independents, Lieberman and Sanders, but Sanders is from Vermont and is very liberal, and has spoken out in favor of a public health care option. Lieberman leans right. So it could be only 57.

What will be the Democrats' excuse for not getting things done now? Lack of bipartisan support? Been bought off by the insurance companies and drug companies? It's time for Senators to stop being pusillanimous and pass a public universal health care option, really fight for equal rights for gays, ban assault weapons, and represent THE PEOPLE for a change, not just the campaign donors and lobbyists.

DA Jim Martin Fails, Child Rapist Freed From Prison

Related Morning Call "newspaper" Story  

Let's cut to the chase ... 

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied Lehigh County DA Jim Martin's request for a stay, so child rapist William H. Evans has been freed from prison.  

DA Jim Martin Fails, Child Rapist Freed From Prison

Related Morning Call "newspaper" Story  

Let's cut to the chase ... 

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied Lehigh County DA Jim Martin's request for a stay, so child rapist William H. Evans has been freed from prison.  

Free Happy Hour @ Our New Sidebar

Relax. Get comfortable. 

And spend a free happy hour, on us, reading our blog's new right sidebar content. 

Start with the lovely and talented Sheena Villa ... 

and then work your way through The Morning Call "newspaper," DA Jim Martin, Glenn Kranzley, Bernie O'Hare, attorney (for now) David C. Najarian (Lynn Township Supervisor), DA John Morganelli, Allentown City Council VP Mike Donovan, and hilarious comic relief buffoon characters Mike "3%" Molovinsky and "Father" Alex Joseph. 

Possibly you've consumed some version of these shock-tails before? 

Perhaps w/ a twist or a huge dollop of  deception?

But now, exclusively at our right sidebar, these spirited stories have been distilled straight-up for a truer, smoother, and quicker absorption rate (we know how busy you are) that really packs a wallop. 

Warning: You might find our new right sidebar content sobering. 

Let us know what you think. And please, take your time. We're nowhere near last call. 

Free Happy Hour @ Our New Sidebar

Relax. Get comfortable. 

And spend a free happy hour, on us, reading our blog's new right sidebar content. 

Start with the lovely and talented Sheena Villa ... 

and then work your way through The Morning Call "newspaper," DA Jim Martin, Glenn Kranzley, Bernie O'Hare, attorney (for now) David C. Najarian (Lynn Township Supervisor), DA John Morganelli, Allentown City Council VP Mike Donovan, and hilarious comic relief buffoon characters Mike "3%" Molovinsky and "Father" Alex Joseph. 

Possibly you've consumed some version of these shock-tails before? 

Perhaps w/ a twist or a huge dollop of  deception?

But now, exclusively at our right sidebar, these spirited stories have been distilled straight-up for a truer, smoother, and quicker absorption rate (we know how busy you are) that really packs a wallop. 

Warning: You might find our new right sidebar content sobering. 

Let us know what you think. And please, take your time. We're nowhere near last call. 

We The People Want Public Health Care

The very sad news of the death of actress Farrah Fawcett today made me think about the many Americans without health insurance who suffer and die from cancer due to not being able to afford treatment for the deadly disease. Farrah was brave for documenting and calling attention to her battle with cancer. I think what the media needs to call attention to right now is the close to 50 million uninsured Americans. And many of those people are middle-class. We have a health care crisis in this country. The majority of Americans (72% according to a NY Times/CBS News Poll)

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/06/21/health/policy/21poll_graphic_ready.html

favor a government administered health insurance plan. According to EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute) http://www.ebri.org/ a conservative organization, 83% of Americans favor "creating a new public health insurance plan that anyone can purchase."

Ironically, the demographic with the biggest opposition to a public plan are the over age 65 group, the same people who are currently in a government run health insurance plan called Medicare. Older Americans seem fearful of any change.

Obama promised us the same quality health care coverage that Congress receives. Everyone deserves health care, it is not a privilege. A public option is the only way to bring about universal affordable health care. In Obama's words, the public plan would "keep insurance companies honest." He is willing to compromise for Republican support, but most R's seem to just want to obstruct everything Obama wants to do. There are some Democrats against it too. And I think the Democrats need to grow a set and challenge the obstructionist Republicans. Let the R's filibuster. Obviously bipartisanship is not going to happen with this issue, so Congress needs to fight for the people's interests. They need to be in touch with the people. I like Howard Dean, he seems to be aware of the seriousness of this crisis . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Dean

Meanwhile, the national media is focusing on the infidelity and shenanigans of some governor, while Americans are dying due to lack of health care coverage. And in our local "newspaper", The Morning Call, headline news is constant updates on puppies in need and some hot dog vendor crisis. They need to get their priorities straight.

Photo: Protesters in Maine

We The People Want Public Health Care

The very sad news of the death of actress Farrah Fawcett today made me think about the many Americans without health insurance who suffer and die from cancer due to not being able to afford treatment for the deadly disease. Farrah was brave for documenting and calling attention to her battle with cancer. I think what the media needs to call attention to right now is the close to 50 million uninsured Americans. And many of those people are middle-class. We have a health care crisis in this country. The majority of Americans (72% according to a NY Times/CBS News Poll)

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2009/06/21/health/policy/21poll_graphic_ready.html

favor a government administered health insurance plan. According to EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute) http://www.ebri.org/ a conservative organization, 83% of Americans favor "creating a new public health insurance plan that anyone can purchase."

Ironically, the demographic with the biggest opposition to a public plan are the over age 65 group, the same people who are currently in a government run health insurance plan called Medicare. Older Americans seem fearful of any change.

Obama promised us the same quality health care coverage that Congress receives. Everyone deserves health care, it is not a privilege. A public option is the only way to bring about universal affordable health care. In Obama's words, the public plan would "keep insurance companies honest." He is willing to compromise for Republican support, but most R's seem to just want to obstruct everything Obama wants to do. There are some Democrats against it too. And I think the Democrats need to grow a set and challenge the obstructionist Republicans. Let the R's filibuster. Obviously bipartisanship is not going to happen with this issue, so Congress needs to fight for the people's interests. They need to be in touch with the people. I like Howard Dean, he seems to be aware of the seriousness of this crisis . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Dean

Meanwhile, the national media is focusing on the infidelity and shenanigans of some governor, while Americans are dying due to lack of health care coverage. And in our local "newspaper", The Morning Call, headline news is constant updates on puppies in need and some hot dog vendor crisis. They need to get their priorities straight.

Photo: Protesters in Maine

Boycott Advertisers of Right Wing Hate

Where is the moral compass of the advertisers who are supporting Fox News and its hate speech? The unfair and unbalanced right wing media has created a dangerous climate in this country which has fueled an increase in violent racist hate crimes, hatred towards our President, and fear of a liberal government.

Voices on the right, like loudmouths Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck constantly cross the line, spewing hate and anger without taking into consideration how this kind of vitriol might impact public thought. It is disturbing how many people will believe the Fox "News" propaganda as truth, because they really think Fox News is a reliable and trustworthy source for news. 

Here in the Lehigh Valley, our local news media leans very heavily toward the right wingnut variety, with right-wing talk shows on WAEB all day. We have heard professional people we know casually and hopefully discussing the possibility of our President being assassinated by southeners, as if that would be not such a bad thing. It is unsettling when I walk into my bank and I am bombarded with Fox News on all their TV screens. Get me outta here!

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that tracks hate crimes, reports that participation in hate groups in America has risen over 50% since 2000. According to the report:

"It attributed that growth mainly to fears about non-white immigration, but pointed out that the rise of a black man to the White House also appears to have contributed. And it said the ongoing economic meltdown, which some have already blamed on racial minorities and undocumented Latino immigrants, could well add to a worsening situation."

See the entire article: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1052

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

After enduring eight years in the Dark Ages led by a President who had trouble putting a sentence together and couldn't care less about equal rights, we finally have an intelligent, diplomatic, charismatic, capable, and respectable leader in the White House who has to clean up the disastrous mess left by the previous failed administration and move us forward. And the leader of the Republican Party, radio host Rush Limbaugh, hopes that our President fails. Nice.

Our local "newspaper" endorses hate by allowing racist and homophobic comments at its website online Forum, and this creates a dangerous climate that is bad for our community. And then there's our overwhelmingly NeoCon local blahgassmear that our "newspaper" links to. 

Shame on The Morning Call and Fox News advertisers for endorsing hatred and violence toward liberals, our President, and our government. Boycott the advertisers at Fox News, and at our local "newspaper." Here's a list of Fox advertisers: http://www.debone.com/boycottFoxNewsSponsors.html

And here's a blog that makes it easy for you to send e-mails to companies:

http://foxnewssucks.blogspot.com/2009/04/boycott-fox-news-advertisers.html

Boycott Advertisers of Right Wing Hate

Where is the moral compass of the advertisers who are supporting Fox News and its hate speech? The unfair and unbalanced right wing media has created a dangerous climate in this country which has fueled an increase in violent racist hate crimes, hatred towards our President, and fear of a liberal government.

Voices on the right, like loudmouths Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck constantly cross the line, spewing hate and anger without taking into consideration how this kind of vitriol might impact public thought. It is disturbing how many people will believe the Fox "News" propaganda as truth, because they really think Fox News is a reliable and trustworthy source for news. 

Here in the Lehigh Valley, our local news media leans very heavily toward the right wingnut variety, with right-wing talk shows on WAEB all day. We have heard professional people we know casually and hopefully discussing the possibility of our President being assassinated by southeners, as if that would be not such a bad thing. It is unsettling when I walk into my bank and I am bombarded with Fox News on all their TV screens. Get me outta here!

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that tracks hate crimes, reports that participation in hate groups in America has risen over 50% since 2000. According to the report:

"It attributed that growth mainly to fears about non-white immigration, but pointed out that the rise of a black man to the White House also appears to have contributed. And it said the ongoing economic meltdown, which some have already blamed on racial minorities and undocumented Latino immigrants, could well add to a worsening situation."

See the entire article: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1052

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

After enduring eight years in the Dark Ages led by a President who had trouble putting a sentence together and couldn't care less about equal rights, we finally have an intelligent, diplomatic, charismatic, capable, and respectable leader in the White House who has to clean up the disastrous mess left by the previous failed administration and move us forward. And the leader of the Republican Party, radio host Rush Limbaugh, hopes that our President fails. Nice.

Our local "newspaper" endorses hate by allowing racist and homophobic comments at its website online Forum, and this creates a dangerous climate that is bad for our community. And then there's our overwhelmingly NeoCon local blahgassmear that our "newspaper" links to. 

Shame on The Morning Call and Fox News advertisers for endorsing hatred and violence toward liberals, our President, and our government. Boycott the advertisers at Fox News, and at our local "newspaper." Here's a list of Fox advertisers: http://www.debone.com/boycottFoxNewsSponsors.html

And here's a blog that makes it easy for you to send e-mails to companies:

http://foxnewssucks.blogspot.com/2009/04/boycott-fox-news-advertisers.html

Allentown City Council VP Mike Donovan Should Resign or Be Fired

Related Morning Call "newspaper" story  

Readers, in case you missed it in The Morning Call "newspaper" recently, oh so "civil" (wink wink) Allentown City Council vice president Mike Donovan has been "accused" (a.k.a. charged) w/ Criminal Harassment and is also facing a property destruction lawsuit stemming from a surprisingly uncivil rage incident w/ a neighbor. 

According to the neighbor's Criminal Complaint, Cedar Crest College professor Donovan said that "me and Diana" (i.e., Morning Call freelance writer Diana Morse, Donovan's wife) were tired of the neighbor's dog. The neighbor claims that Councilor Donovan rang her doorbell several times last month in a "brutal disturbing way," smashed her front glass door, and repeatedly harassed her and her two children about the family dog-- including storming to her 17 year-old son's place of employment and harassing him there while he was trying to do his job. 

The neighbor's Criminal Complaint also implies that, like a robotic "Stepford Wife" w/ an implant in her brain, Diana Morse enabled her husband's harassing behavior and verbally harassed the neighbor's two children herself as well. 

This is the second time in recent months that seemingly "mellow" (on the outside anyway) Councilor Donovan has been involved with the law. In April, Donovan commanded some teenagers in Bucky Boyle park to stop riding go-carts there or face police wrath so one of the boys punched him in the face. 

Although these two rage incidents are troubling and indicative of an emerging "dark side" to Mike Donovan and his wife, they are merely the last straws that should break the camel's back re: Councilor Donovan, in the always humble opinion of Lehigh Valley Somebody. 

We believe these transgressions are much more troubling ...

Morning Call-Affiliated Hate Bloggers Manipulating Allentown Politics

Readers, for the past year or so, embittered, vendetta-driven 2005 Allentown Mayoral Election loser and South Whitehall Township resident and rabid NeoCon, Mike "3%" (and that's how few votes he got in '05) Molovinsky, has become, incredibly, one of councilor Donovan's "advisors" on matters affecting Allentown. 

Even worse, another of Donovan's insider-access "advisors" is Mayor Pawlowski-Bashing Nazareth PA resident and fellow hate blogger, Bernie O'Hare, co-creator of the shamelessly dishonest, sadistically cruel, and Morning Call-Approved "Troll Parade" blog. 

All three "men" are hand-picked members of Valley Blogosphere, The Morning Call's "newspaper" dissent-quashing and political agenda-framing group assembled by Glenn Kranzley.  

Councilor Donovan: we are judged by the company we keep and you are cavorting w/ and soliciting the counsel of corrosive and divisive out-of-town cretins. And in your spare time, it appears you are smashing the glass front doors of neighbors whose behavior you disagree w/ . 

How uncivil for a City Council VP (for now) to behave. 

Allentown City Council VP Mike Donovan Should Resign or Be Fired

Related Morning Call "newspaper" story  

Readers, in case you missed it in The Morning Call "newspaper" recently, oh so "civil" (wink wink) Allentown City Council vice president Mike Donovan has been "accused" (a.k.a. charged) w/ Criminal Harassment and is also facing a property destruction lawsuit stemming from a surprisingly uncivil rage incident w/ a neighbor. 

According to the neighbor's Criminal Complaint, Cedar Crest College professor Donovan said that "me and Diana" (i.e., Morning Call freelance writer Diana Morse, Donovan's wife) were tired of the neighbor's dog. The neighbor claims that Councilor Donovan rang her doorbell several times last month in a "brutal disturbing way," smashed her front glass door, and repeatedly harassed her and her two children about the family dog-- including storming to her 17 year-old son's place of employment and harassing him there while he was trying to do his job. 

The neighbor's Criminal Complaint also implies that, like a robotic "Stepford Wife" w/ an implant in her brain, Diana Morse enabled her husband's harassing behavior and verbally harassed the neighbor's two children herself as well. 

This is the second time in recent months that seemingly "mellow" (on the outside anyway) Councilor Donovan has been involved with the law. In April, Donovan commanded some teenagers in Bucky Boyle park to stop riding go-carts there or face police wrath so one of the boys punched him in the face. 

Although these two rage incidents are troubling and indicative of an emerging "dark side" to Mike Donovan and his wife, they are merely the last straws that should break the camel's back re: Councilor Donovan, in the always humble opinion of Lehigh Valley Somebody. 

We believe these transgressions are much more troubling ...

Morning Call-Affiliated Hate Bloggers Manipulating Allentown Politics

Readers, for the past year or so, embittered, vendetta-driven 2005 Allentown Mayoral Election loser and South Whitehall Township resident and rabid NeoCon, Mike "3%" (and that's how few votes he got in '05) Molovinsky, has become, incredibly, one of councilor Donovan's "advisors" on matters affecting Allentown. 

Even worse, another of Donovan's insider-access "advisors" is Mayor Pawlowski-Bashing Nazareth PA resident and fellow hate blogger, Bernie O'Hare, co-creator of the shamelessly dishonest, sadistically cruel, and Morning Call-Approved "Troll Parade" blog. 

All three "men" are hand-picked members of Valley Blogosphere, The Morning Call's "newspaper" dissent-quashing and political agenda-framing group assembled by Glenn Kranzley.  

Councilor Donovan: we are judged by the company we keep and you are cavorting w/ and soliciting the counsel of corrosive and divisive out-of-town cretins. And in your spare time, it appears you are smashing the glass front doors of neighbors whose behavior you disagree w/ . 

How uncivil for a City Council VP (for now) to behave. 

Vicious Attack Dogs

My family and I enjoy walking in Allentown's many beautiful parks, and we are greatly looking forward to the new and fabulous "destination playground" at Cedar Beach, and the many other improvements that are planned for our parks.

Recently we've experienced a few scary incidents involving vicious dogs of the pit bull variety at the parks that were very frightening for our young son, and for us. Two dogs lunged at us for no apparent reason. We weren't injured but both incidents were too close for comfort. Both dogs that went after us were on leashes, but the leash was either held by a child who couldn't handle the dog, or by someone not really concerned about the length of the leash or the safety of other people visiting the park. We see dogs running leash-free at Trexler Park all the time where it is posted as a violation. So now we've been forced into carrying a nasty-looking stick when we walk in the parks, and not surprisingly, when dog owners see you coming w/ a big stick, oh my, they pay much closer attention to their lovable pooch's proximity to you, try it. 

Now don't get me wrong, we LOVE DOGS, especially Golden and Laborador Retrievers and Greyhounds. We think there should be a dog park in Allentown where dogs and their owners can play in a protected area, so dogless families can feel safe from lunging attack dogs and irresponsible pet owners who can quickly ruin a family's otherwise pleasant stroll in the park. A dog park would also cut back on some of the dog poop in our parks, which, let's be honest, not all dog owners give a crap about scooping up.

Allentown's bountiful park system has plenty of open space for an enclosed dog run, and a destination playground. I remember reading a post at the Allentown Good News blog about possible plans and citizen input regarding a dog park in Allentown, but I haven't heard anything about the progress of those plans. Anybody know? Judging by how many dogs we see in the parks, some people wielding 3-4 pups at a time, I would say there is a definite demand for a dog park. Dog parks help build social capital because they bring people together for a common cause.

But sorry, dog owners, we shouldn't have to trust you when you say your dog doesn't bite. Pit bulls were created and bred in England to kill. They have an in-bred propensity to attack, without warning. Pit bulls have been outlawed in Great Britain and banned from breeding in Ontario since 2005 where owners must muzzle them in public. See this informative website about laws, statistics, and info regarding dangerous and vicious dogs ...

> http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/danger.htm

Pit bulls and Rottweilers together commit 2/3 (65%) of the "serial" attacks on humans and more than 3/4 (79%) of the "rampage" attacks. (Source, Animal People)

Sorry Fido, but there are irresponsible dog owners, and we believe there should be stricter laws and regulations requiring the muzzling of certain dangerous breeds of dogs.

Public safety is more important than the rights of pet owners.

Vicious Attack Dogs

My family and I enjoy walking in Allentown's many beautiful parks, and we are greatly looking forward to the new and fabulous "destination playground" at Cedar Beach, and the many other improvements that are planned for our parks.

Recently we've experienced a few scary incidents involving vicious dogs of the pit bull variety at the parks that were very frightening for our young son, and for us. Two dogs lunged at us for no apparent reason. We weren't injured but both incidents were too close for comfort. Both dogs that went after us were on leashes, but the leash was either held by a child who couldn't handle the dog, or by someone not really concerned about the length of the leash or the safety of other people visiting the park. We see dogs running leash-free at Trexler Park all the time where it is posted as a violation. So now we've been forced into carrying a nasty-looking stick when we walk in the parks, and not surprisingly, when dog owners see you coming w/ a big stick, oh my, they pay much closer attention to their lovable pooch's proximity to you, try it. 

Now don't get me wrong, we LOVE DOGS, especially Golden and Laborador Retrievers and Greyhounds. We think there should be a dog park in Allentown where dogs and their owners can play in a protected area, so dogless families can feel safe from lunging attack dogs and irresponsible pet owners who can quickly ruin a family's otherwise pleasant stroll in the park. A dog park would also cut back on some of the dog poop in our parks, which, let's be honest, not all dog owners give a crap about scooping up.

Allentown's bountiful park system has plenty of open space for an enclosed dog run, and a destination playground. I remember reading a post at the Allentown Good News blog about possible plans and citizen input regarding a dog park in Allentown, but I haven't heard anything about the progress of those plans. Anybody know? Judging by how many dogs we see in the parks, some people wielding 3-4 pups at a time, I would say there is a definite demand for a dog park. Dog parks help build social capital because they bring people together for a common cause.

But sorry, dog owners, we shouldn't have to trust you when you say your dog doesn't bite. Pit bulls were created and bred in England to kill. They have an in-bred propensity to attack, without warning. Pit bulls have been outlawed in Great Britain and banned from breeding in Ontario since 2005 where owners must muzzle them in public. See this informative website about laws, statistics, and info regarding dangerous and vicious dogs ...

> http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/danger.htm

Pit bulls and Rottweilers together commit 2/3 (65%) of the "serial" attacks on humans and more than 3/4 (79%) of the "rampage" attacks. (Source, Animal People)

Sorry Fido, but there are irresponsible dog owners, and we believe there should be stricter laws and regulations requiring the muzzling of certain dangerous breeds of dogs.

Public safety is more important than the rights of pet owners.

Liberal Media Bias ... Locally?

UpDate: Hear Bill Villa's WAEB Shows at You Tube

Where is this local "liberal media bias" that the minority local NeoCon lunatics (respectfully) are always kvetching about? Let's review, shall we ... 

Local news radio station WAEB-AM runs right wing-friendly shows all day.

WFMZ-TV carries conservative religious programming and provides Neo-Conservative-only commentary by that really spooky and sarcastic know-it-all (and station owner) Dick Dean. 

Then there's our stranglehold local monopoly "newspaper," The In-Mourning Call. It links to Neo-Conservative-only or apolitical blogs in its "Valley Blogosphere" lapdog club and the majority of its regular commenters at The Morning Call's online "Forum" sections are Obama-Hating and Pawlowski-Bashing misogynist-anti-semite-homophobic-latino-hating-bigots who are allowed to spew freely because hate sells-- it "attracts advertisers," according to Bill White.

The Allentown Commentator "blog" (really a "chat room" ick) is a far right-wing extremist gathering storm hosted by Scott Armstrong where we've read rile-'em-up racist comments aimed at our President and Allentown's Latino population. 

One would think there'd be some variety and divergence of thought in a local blogosphere. Not around here. Take a look at the Lehigh Valley blogs currently ranked by BlogNet News as being among the Top 20 Most Influential Political Blogs in Pennsylvania. 

Only the #1 Blog in The Lehigh Valley for 22 of the last 27 weeks (this blog, Lehigh Valley Somebody, #5 statewide) is openly and proudly liberal. 

All the other Lehigh Valley also-ran blogs at BNN are either NeoConservative (#6, #7, #16, #20) or politically neutral ("mellow"), #17. 

We local liberals do have an NPR affiliate community public radio station in WDIY-FM and a PBS TV station but they both lean conservative and Republican. 

In 2008, President Barack Obama won 57% of the vote in Lehigh County. 

In 2005, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski won with a 59% popular vote mandate over Republican Bill Heydt (38%) and nosey South Whitehall Township buttinsky neighbor Mike Molovinsky (3%).  

Allentown is a mostly deep dark blue city that has not voted for a Republican President since 1988 (and we regret that one). 

Our local NeoCon Biased Media & Blogosphere is not serving the majority of our population who are moderate and liberal Democrats.

Thankfully, this blog is. 

For a "liberal media bias" you won't find anywhere else in the Lehigh Valley, thanks for reading (#1) LVS regularly.