Racist Opposition To Allentown Playground

Dour buttinsky Mike Molovinsky is a resident of the tony Allentown PA suburb of South Whitehall Township.

He doesn't live, or vote, in Allentown.

But trust fund slacker Mike Molovinsky is accustomed to getting his own way, dammit.

And Mikey does not want a proposed new Destination Playground [Watch Video!] at Allentown's Cedar Beach Park.

It's okay to put it "in their 'hood, but not ours," is the verbatim gist of all the tightly Molovinsky-moderated "discussion" on this hot topic at Mike Molovinsky's Morning Call newspaper-affiliated and awarded hate blog, Molovinsky on Allentown.

FYI, Mike Molovinsky ran very unsuccessfully for Mayor of Allentown in 2005 when he suffered a humiliating (and some say life-changing) 59% to 3% pummeling by popular Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Adding belly-laugh (3%!) insult to injury, out-of-office and discredited former Mayor Bill Heydt got 38% of the vote.

Back in 2005, hardly anybody (3%) was paying any attention to Mike Molovinsky and so the coded racism that dominated Molovinsky's Campaign Platform went mostly unnoticed.

Readers, we encourage you to pay close attention to Molovinsky's Campaign Platform now-- because it reveals Molovinsky's elitist and racist disdain for the poor while providing some context for Molovinsky's konstantly kvetching "sore loser" vendetta against compassionate and humanitarian Allentown Mayor, Ed Pawlowski.

Molovinsky's platform starts w/ a misspelled, fear-mongering acronym, "Save Our Sity," and then 10 of its 18 sentences are blatantly elitist and racist. Allow us to "translate" its main points for you and put Mike's already telegraph-obvious agenda in the spotlight ...

"We must recover from being the victim of Political Correctness." Translation: "My political inspiration, the late Allentown City Council woman Emma Tropiano had it right: WE MUST QUIT BEING SHY ABOUT BLAMING ALLENTOWN'S PROBLEMS ON THE HISPANICS."

"We can no longer tolerate being a poverty magnet ... We will no longer strive to win the national HUD award for making low-income homeowners. We will no longer strive to be the third largest city in Pa., necessitating a high rise prison." Translation: "Poor people are criminals; most hispanics are poor; do the math."

"Our current social programs are morally commendable, but unfair to the taxpayer. Social agencies should receive our gratitude, not our taxes." Translation: "Poor people don't pay any of the taxes "we" pay, so screw 'em."

"Public safety will mean police patrolmen, not multiple assistant chiefs attending national conferences." Translation: "We already know who and where the trouble-makers are (Emma told us), so let's stop "studying solutions" and start crackin' heads."

Readers, the Mike Molovinsky-led opposition to Allentown's proposed Destination Playground is obstructionist and racist mob-rule mentality nonsense.

It's akin to the loony racist "birthers" who recently forged a Kenyan birth certificate for President Obama and the RepubliCON opposition to anything Obama wants to accomplish for the American people, like healthcare reform, and having a wise latina on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Isn't it curious how quickly some white men in Congress and the Lehigh Valley can see "reverse racism" against white people, but fail to notice or call out explicit racism and hatred against Latinos, African-Americans, Muslims, and other minorities-- which you can step in daily at local online "Klan Rallies" like The Morning Call Forum, Scott Armstrong's white-hooded Allentown Commentator chat room, and Molovinsky on Allentown.

On a related subject, we are saddened that Allentown City Council Vice President (for now) and Cedar Crest College "ethics" professor Michael Donovan (allegedly an educator? and a "liberal?") would ally so closely w/ Mike Molovinsky at his blog and give such unwarranted attention and approval to Molovinsky and his handful of loony, racist foot-dragger supporters who are against Equal Opportunity for all the children of Allentown, while deleting and muzzling a dozen legitimate comments of dissent at his ironically titled blog, "Inclusion."

Allentown, let's build that Destination Playground ASAP and Move Forward Together (well, most of us anyway).

Update: The Shameful "Ethics" of Michael Donovan

Racist Opposition To Allentown Playground

Dour buttinsky Mike Molovinsky is a resident of the tony Allentown PA suburb of South Whitehall Township.

He doesn't live, or vote, in Allentown.

But trust fund slacker Mike Molovinsky is accustomed to getting his own way, dammit.

And Mikey does not want a proposed new Destination Playground [Watch Video!] at Allentown's Cedar Beach Park.

It's okay to put it "in their 'hood, but not ours," is the verbatim gist of all the tightly Molovinsky-moderated "discussion" on this hot topic at Mike Molovinsky's Morning Call newspaper-affiliated and awarded hate blog, Molovinsky on Allentown.

FYI, Mike Molovinsky ran very unsuccessfully for Mayor of Allentown in 2005 when he suffered a humiliating (and some say life-changing) 59% to 3% pummeling by popular Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Adding belly-laugh (3%!) insult to injury, out-of-office and discredited former Mayor Bill Heydt got 38% of the vote.

Back in 2005, hardly anybody (3%) was paying any attention to Mike Molovinsky and so the coded racism that dominated Molovinsky's Campaign Platform went mostly unnoticed.

Readers, we encourage you to pay close attention to Molovinsky's Campaign Platform now-- because it reveals Molovinsky's elitist and racist disdain for the poor while providing some context for Molovinsky's konstantly kvetching "sore loser" vendetta against compassionate and humanitarian Allentown Mayor, Ed Pawlowski.

Molovinsky's platform starts w/ a misspelled, fear-mongering acronym, "Save Our Sity," and then 10 of its 18 sentences are blatantly elitist and racist. Allow us to "translate" its main points for you and put Mike's already telegraph-obvious agenda in the spotlight ...

"We must recover from being the victim of Political Correctness." Translation: "My political inspiration, the late Allentown City Council woman Emma Tropiano had it right: WE MUST QUIT BEING SHY ABOUT BLAMING ALLENTOWN'S PROBLEMS ON THE HISPANICS."

"We can no longer tolerate being a poverty magnet ... We will no longer strive to win the national HUD award for making low-income homeowners. We will no longer strive to be the third largest city in Pa., necessitating a high rise prison." Translation: "Poor people are criminals; most hispanics are poor; do the math."

"Our current social programs are morally commendable, but unfair to the taxpayer. Social agencies should receive our gratitude, not our taxes." Translation: "Poor people don't pay any of the taxes "we" pay, so screw 'em."

"Public safety will mean police patrolmen, not multiple assistant chiefs attending national conferences." Translation: "We already know who and where the trouble-makers are (Emma told us), so let's stop "studying solutions" and start crackin' heads."

Readers, the Mike Molovinsky-led opposition to Allentown's proposed Destination Playground is obstructionist and racist mob-rule mentality nonsense.

It's akin to the loony racist "birthers" who recently forged a Kenyan birth certificate for President Obama and the RepubliCON opposition to anything Obama wants to accomplish for the American people, like healthcare reform, and having a wise latina on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Isn't it curious how quickly some white men in Congress and the Lehigh Valley can see "reverse racism" against white people, but fail to notice or call out explicit racism and hatred against Latinos, African-Americans, Muslims, and other minorities-- which you can step in daily at local online "Klan Rallies" like The Morning Call Forum, Scott Armstrong's white-hooded Allentown Commentator chat room, and Molovinsky on Allentown.

On a related subject, we are saddened that Allentown City Council Vice President (for now) and Cedar Crest College "ethics" professor Michael Donovan (allegedly an educator? and a "liberal?") would ally so closely w/ Mike Molovinsky at his blog and give such unwarranted attention and approval to Molovinsky and his handful of loony, racist foot-dragger supporters who are against Equal Opportunity for all the children of Allentown, while deleting and muzzling a dozen legitimate comments of dissent at his ironically titled blog, "Inclusion."

Allentown, let's build that Destination Playground ASAP and Move Forward Together (well, most of us anyway).

Update: The Shameful "Ethics" of Michael Donovan

ASD Faces Big Challenges

Four years ago a group of business and community leaders in Allentown formed "Education 2010!" The group hired and paid a consulting firm in Denver to prepare a local "costing out study" for the Allentown School District. The reason for the study was to ensure equitable funding and a better education for ASD students, which in turn could result in a stronger regional economy, and a better quality of life for all residents.

The results of the study are quite surprising. Here's a link ...  

According to the study, these are some of the challenges that the ASD faces:

- ASD has almost 3 times as many poor students as the next highest district (Northern Lehigh)

- ASD has more than 5 times as many English learners as the next highest district (Whitehall)

-Compared to half of the other districts in the county, ASD has seven times as many poor students and fifteen times as many English language learners.

The study reports that Allentown has the lowest property value per student, less than half of what most other districts in Lehigh County have, but Allentown's tax rate is higher than both county and state averages. And the huge revenue gap between the ASD and other districts will keep increasing as more families move to Parkland and East Penn. Hopefully that trend will change, and in the future more families will choose to live in the city.

I have seen the gross inequity between the ASD and other local districts. This is unfair and unjust because the ASD child who is born into poverty deserves the same quality education as the suburban child who lives in the McMansion in the Macungies.

Why should the quality of a child's education be hinged upon local property values? It's wrong to deny a child born into poverty the necessary resources for a quality education. 

In the 2008-2009 budget, Governor Rendell introduced a new school funding formula to distribute funds based on the actual number of students in a district, factoring in the number of students living in poverty, English learners, and special needs. So Allentown would be getting more state funding this coming school year. But now because of the current budget crisis, those funds are at risk of being cut. This is really bad news for the ASD because if programs are cut, the needs of students will not be met.

What would help to improve this dire situation? Allentown's taxes are already too high.

The ASD would certainly benefit from more community involvement and help from business leaders, but that's not enough.

We believe that school district consolidation into a county district is worth looking into. Of course, there would be people who would complain that their hard earned tax money shoudn't be used to help some poor inner city kid who can't speak English. Not everyone wants to "share the wealth." And considering today's current divisive political atmosphere, overt racism in the media, and the classism and racism in our society, it doesn't look like people are willing to come together on important issues like education and health care. The Republicans are more concerned about stopping President Obama than listening to the American people.

But why not share the wealth, since a child who has a quality education is more likely to go on to college, help improve the economy, and benefit society as a whole. It's a good return on your investment. And what could be more important than our children?

ASD Faces Big Challenges

Four years ago a group of business and community leaders in Allentown formed "Education 2010!" The group hired and paid a consulting firm in Denver to prepare a local "costing out study" for the Allentown School District. The reason for the study was to ensure equitable funding and a better education for ASD students, which in turn could result in a stronger regional economy, and a better quality of life for all residents.

The results of the study are quite surprising. Here's a link ...  

According to the study, these are some of the challenges that the ASD faces:

- ASD has almost 3 times as many poor students as the next highest district (Northern Lehigh)

- ASD has more than 5 times as many English learners as the next highest district (Whitehall)

-Compared to half of the other districts in the county, ASD has seven times as many poor students and fifteen times as many English language learners.

The study reports that Allentown has the lowest property value per student, less than half of what most other districts in Lehigh County have, but Allentown's tax rate is higher than both county and state averages. And the huge revenue gap between the ASD and other districts will keep increasing as more families move to Parkland and East Penn. Hopefully that trend will change, and in the future more families will choose to live in the city.

I have seen the gross inequity between the ASD and other local districts. This is unfair and unjust because the ASD child who is born into poverty deserves the same quality education as the suburban child who lives in the McMansion in the Macungies.

Why should the quality of a child's education be hinged upon local property values? It's wrong to deny a child born into poverty the necessary resources for a quality education. 

In the 2008-2009 budget, Governor Rendell introduced a new school funding formula to distribute funds based on the actual number of students in a district, factoring in the number of students living in poverty, English learners, and special needs. So Allentown would be getting more state funding this coming school year. But now because of the current budget crisis, those funds are at risk of being cut. This is really bad news for the ASD because if programs are cut, the needs of students will not be met.

What would help to improve this dire situation? Allentown's taxes are already too high.

The ASD would certainly benefit from more community involvement and help from business leaders, but that's not enough.

We believe that school district consolidation into a county district is worth looking into. Of course, there would be people who would complain that their hard earned tax money shoudn't be used to help some poor inner city kid who can't speak English. Not everyone wants to "share the wealth." And considering today's current divisive political atmosphere, overt racism in the media, and the classism and racism in our society, it doesn't look like people are willing to come together on important issues like education and health care. The Republicans are more concerned about stopping President Obama than listening to the American people.

But why not share the wealth, since a child who has a quality education is more likely to go on to college, help improve the economy, and benefit society as a whole. It's a good return on your investment. And what could be more important than our children?

DA Martin: We Have a Right To Know

[After you read this post, read the follow-up post, Kathleen Parrish Responds ]

Readers, this went out in today's mail:

July 20, 2009

To: Kathleen Parrish, “Right To Know” Officer, Lehigh County

From: Bill Villa

Ms. Parrish, recently, former longtime Morning Call newspaper "courthouse beat" reporter Debbie Garlicki became an Executive Aide in the office of Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.

As my attachments indicate, Ms. Garlicki’s new duties as an Executive Aide to DA Jim Martin include writing and disseminating Press Releases promoting Mr. Martin— a function not all that different from Ms. Garlicki’s previous position at The Morning Call newspaper, but I digress.

Q. Did this Executive Aide/Public Relations position in DA Jim Martin’s office exist prior to Debbie Garlicki's permanent layoff from The Morning Call newspaper?

Or was this position created especially for Debbie Garlicki?

I look forward to an initial response from you within 5 business days as is pledged at the Lehigh County web site’s "Right To Know" page.

Thank you.

-------------------

UpDate: In a message dated 7/31/09 9:05:51 AM, Kathleen Parrish writes:

Hi Bill, I received your request in the mail yesterday. I have the information you requested and will put it in the mail today. Thanks, Kathleen

------------------

Readers, please note: a mailing glitch (an error on my part) resulted in the "late" (i.e., received just yesterday) arrival of my Open Records Act, "Right To Know" inquiry onto Kathleen Parrish's desk. She is responding to my inquiry 4 business days faster than is promised at the County's web site, and I appreciate that. Look for a follow-up post on this matter, after we have a chance to examine the County's answer to our question.

DA Martin: We Have a Right To Know

[After you read this post, read the follow-up post, Kathleen Parrish Responds ]

Readers, this went out in today's mail:

July 20, 2009

To: Kathleen Parrish, “Right To Know” Officer, Lehigh County

From: Bill Villa

Ms. Parrish, recently, former longtime Morning Call newspaper "courthouse beat" reporter Debbie Garlicki became an Executive Aide in the office of Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.

As my attachments indicate, Ms. Garlicki’s new duties as an Executive Aide to DA Jim Martin include writing and disseminating Press Releases promoting Mr. Martin— a function not all that different from Ms. Garlicki’s previous position at The Morning Call newspaper, but I digress.

Q. Did this Executive Aide/Public Relations position in DA Jim Martin’s office exist prior to Debbie Garlicki's permanent layoff from The Morning Call newspaper?

Or was this position created especially for Debbie Garlicki?

I look forward to an initial response from you within 5 business days as is pledged at the Lehigh County web site’s "Right To Know" page.

Thank you.

-------------------

UpDate: In a message dated 7/31/09 9:05:51 AM, Kathleen Parrish writes:

Hi Bill, I received your request in the mail yesterday. I have the information you requested and will put it in the mail today. Thanks, Kathleen

------------------

Readers, please note: a mailing glitch (an error on my part) resulted in the "late" (i.e., received just yesterday) arrival of my Open Records Act, "Right To Know" inquiry onto Kathleen Parrish's desk. She is responding to my inquiry 4 business days faster than is promised at the County's web site, and I appreciate that. Look for a follow-up post on this matter, after we have a chance to examine the County's answer to our question.

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.