*** Computer programmers will always do what they do
It's becoming increasingly difficult to navigate the web. One of my utility companies changed their website and account numbers making it impossible to log on. I had to re-register. When I attempted to do so they required a temporary pass key they'd send via email. I never got it. So I went to my Hotmail account. There Hotmail presented me with two more hoops to jump through before I could even check my inbox. Having obtained the temp pass code for my utility it required that I go paperless whether I like it or not. Yeah well that's gonna work out just swell--I'll never get them. DUH! Next step was to change my online banking information for the utility. If it's an account number--fine. But a address change requires deleting the old account info and creating an entirely new one. Talk about a pain in the butt.
YouTube made a bunch of changes too. The notifications I receive in email no longer display a thumbnail of the video correctly (if at all) nor it's description. They like others are very interested in my security wanting my cell phone number. First off I don't have one. If I did I would never agree to the terms. If one looks carefully by doing so you are giving permission to call it. Ain't never gonna happen. So far I'm able to circumvent these for who knows how long.
Then there's the online banking that also thought it was a great idea to ask me secret questions after they changed. Problem is no matter what answers I gave they were not accepted. Apparently I also needed to have a temporary pass code either via email or phone. Then re-update my "secret questions" all over again.
Nearly every site I visit has pop ups of all kinds I refuse to click on. By clicking on them users are giving permissions for things they'd never would if they knew what they were giving permission for. Plain and simple you guys are F*&k'd up-- it ain't me. Things don't have to be this difficult. I thought computers were suppose to make life simpler. Guess not!
*** Danger, moron behind the wheel
Philly.com reports Wrong-way 18-wheel rig takes trip down Boardwalk-- "Police found an 18-wheeler cruising along the Ventnor Boardwalk early Wednesday morning after it tried to make a u-turn and was directed onto the famous wooden way in Atlantic City, reportedly by the driver’s GPS."
Anyone who can't tell the difference between a "wooden boardwalk" and a street is a complete idiot who doesn't belong behind a wheel. Goodness sake if GPS told someone to drive into a canal--would they? Never mind--some drivers already have. I'd expect this from some robot driven vehicle but human drivers? This guy's making a great pitch for robot replacements, no? Way to go ace!
*** The Slate.com
Russian Facebook Account Reportedly Organized Florida Trump Rallies During Election-- "Russian Facebook accounts attempted to organize more than a dozen Florida Trump rallies during the election, the Daily Beast reported Wednesday:"
Oh my--looks like even Russia wants to MAGA. Who would have thunk it?
*** New York Daily News (video)
Police officer detains boy with autism after mistaking him for druggie-- "A police officer in Arizona mistook a 14-year-old boy who has autism for a drug user and detained the teen... That’s when *** took ***l to the ground."
Well at least he didn't shoot him. Unfortunately in this country most people with mental conditions or addictions end up being jailed as a form of treatment. Fortunately for this kid he wasn't one of them.
*** New York Post
$338M Powerball winner busted for child sex assault--"Nearly $30,000 of that was used at the time to make child support payments that he had owed since 2009."
Yeah this guy sounds like a real winner.
*** Borrowing is going to cost Pennsylvania more
Reuters, S&P downgrades Pennsylvania credit to A-plus, cites budget problems
There's been some talk of borrowing money to plug the budget gap. Yeah that ought to work out just fine. Let the next bunch of elected politicians figure out a way to deal with this. No problem :-(
*** Dem toddlers are such a threat these days
New York Post, 5-year-old suspended for making ‘terroristic threats’ against school--"Great Valley Academy officials said that the ordeal unfolded when little Jackson Riley was asked to take off his backpack, but the 5-year-old boy refused. The child then told his teacher that a bomb inside would explode.."
Damn when I was in kindergarten I never even had a backpack. All I ever thought about was if I'd be allowed the marching sticks or triangle or when a carton of milk would be served. . My how things have changed. They grow up so fast these days. Wonder if this kid will end up on the Homeland security list?
A Blog About Anything & Everything.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
In The News (09/20/2017) PART 1
*** The Morning Call reported on a Allentown plan to limit Muhlenberg College student housing debate-- " Muhlenberg College students who recently returned to campus may face a crackdown on their living arrangements thanks to a proposed expansion of the zoning district around the school."
I'm not going to go into all the ins and outs. Rather how people responded on social media. In the past I've read over and again those who blamed oldsters leaving the city (white flight) for the decay Allentown now is forced to deal with. Accordingly they are criticized for not staying and fighting to maintain their neighborhoods. Ah but now when something like this comes along the residents in the West End are called snobs and elitists for doing just that. Ya just gotta love social media. No matter which side you're on--it's always the wrong one :-)
*** Speaking of ending up on the wrong side of things. ‘Horse’s Ass!’ Mike Francesa Shreds Penn State Coach For Calling a Timeout Up 56-0--"With 11 seconds remaining in his team’s game against Georgia State Saturday, Penn State coach James Franklin called a timeout just as Georgia State was set to attempt a field goal. The problem? Penn State was leading the game 56-0."
Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe one of the defense players had to pee and couldn't hold it. OR the broadcaster notified the coach they needed to get in a few more ads. Either way seemed like a way over reaction to the play.
*** Which brings me to another "over reaction". Today I stopped for gasoline. I charged $42 to my credit card. The next stop I made was at a beer distributor where a $55 charge was declined. Two hours later I received an automated message a fraud might have been conducted. I responded both were legitimate purchases by pressing 1 for each. OMG now this is where things start to go off the rails. When my card was declined at the beer distributor I used a different credit card. OH, OH looks like I'm gonna get double charged. Gotta make some calls. OMG after funneling down dozens of recorded messages it says there' a 1 hour hold time-- WTF!!! Who needs a credit freeze--looks like card companies are doing it on their own. Damn--life is so much easier for hackers.
*** Huffington Post reports, Fentanyl Seized In Record NYC Bust Was Enough To Kill 32 Million-- "Authorities confiscated more than 200 pounds of the potent synthetic opioid from a Queens apartment last month."
Ye gads--as if nukes and outside enemies weren't enough to worry about. The way we're going all our enemies need to do is stand down and wait for us to wreck ourselves.
*** Ours tax dollars HARDLY at work. According to Mediaite--"Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has been using private jets to fly across America... Just last week Price, who often touts the virtues of fiscal responsibility in health policy, “took private jets on five separate flights for official business... One flight Price chartered last week, from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia, cost roughly $25,000 — while commercial flights at the same time cost a few hundred, and an Amtrak train just $72."
This while we're being told government sponsored healthcare is too expensive.
*** U.S. Attorney General, Philadelphia Man Charged with Social Security Fraud--"The defendant’s alleged actions resulted in a loss to the government of approximately $148,526...If convicted, the defendant faces a term of imprisonment, a 3‑year period of supervised release, restitution to the government of $148,526, a $1,250,000 fine, and a $500 special assessment."
There take that you A-hole!
I'm not going to go into all the ins and outs. Rather how people responded on social media. In the past I've read over and again those who blamed oldsters leaving the city (white flight) for the decay Allentown now is forced to deal with. Accordingly they are criticized for not staying and fighting to maintain their neighborhoods. Ah but now when something like this comes along the residents in the West End are called snobs and elitists for doing just that. Ya just gotta love social media. No matter which side you're on--it's always the wrong one :-)
*** Speaking of ending up on the wrong side of things. ‘Horse’s Ass!’ Mike Francesa Shreds Penn State Coach For Calling a Timeout Up 56-0--"With 11 seconds remaining in his team’s game against Georgia State Saturday, Penn State coach James Franklin called a timeout just as Georgia State was set to attempt a field goal. The problem? Penn State was leading the game 56-0."
Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe one of the defense players had to pee and couldn't hold it. OR the broadcaster notified the coach they needed to get in a few more ads. Either way seemed like a way over reaction to the play.
*** Which brings me to another "over reaction". Today I stopped for gasoline. I charged $42 to my credit card. The next stop I made was at a beer distributor where a $55 charge was declined. Two hours later I received an automated message a fraud might have been conducted. I responded both were legitimate purchases by pressing 1 for each. OMG now this is where things start to go off the rails. When my card was declined at the beer distributor I used a different credit card. OH, OH looks like I'm gonna get double charged. Gotta make some calls. OMG after funneling down dozens of recorded messages it says there' a 1 hour hold time-- WTF!!! Who needs a credit freeze--looks like card companies are doing it on their own. Damn--life is so much easier for hackers.
*** Huffington Post reports, Fentanyl Seized In Record NYC Bust Was Enough To Kill 32 Million-- "Authorities confiscated more than 200 pounds of the potent synthetic opioid from a Queens apartment last month."
Ye gads--as if nukes and outside enemies weren't enough to worry about. The way we're going all our enemies need to do is stand down and wait for us to wreck ourselves.
*** Ours tax dollars HARDLY at work. According to Mediaite--"Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has been using private jets to fly across America... Just last week Price, who often touts the virtues of fiscal responsibility in health policy, “took private jets on five separate flights for official business... One flight Price chartered last week, from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia, cost roughly $25,000 — while commercial flights at the same time cost a few hundred, and an Amtrak train just $72."
This while we're being told government sponsored healthcare is too expensive.
*** U.S. Attorney General, Philadelphia Man Charged with Social Security Fraud--"The defendant’s alleged actions resulted in a loss to the government of approximately $148,526...If convicted, the defendant faces a term of imprisonment, a 3‑year period of supervised release, restitution to the government of $148,526, a $1,250,000 fine, and a $500 special assessment."
There take that you A-hole!
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
In The News (09/19/2017)
*** 12 days after hurricane Irma hit Key West, Florida it looks like today the SLOPPY JOE WEBCAMS are back up and running. I been checking on them for days. This is the first day they came back online. The place looks like it was never hit. Good looking as ever. It appears the ERNEST HEMINGWAY HOME & MUSEUM also faired well. The WEBCAM AT MALLORY SQUARE also came back online. The cruise ship dock is looking good too.
However Key West still isn't ready for visitors. According to The Monroe Tourist Development Council...
*** Trump spoke to the U.N. this morning. One headline read, ‘Rocket Man is on a Suicide Mission’: Trump Threatens to ‘Totally Destroy North Korea’--" The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”. Although that may go without saying--I'm not sure why he felt the need to say it. Some of the other stuff he said wasn't framed kindly either. Some may find it refreshing. I don't. Got to remember there are a bunch of other nations sitting there unfriendly with us who won't take his bulling too well. Many have egos as big as his. I expect strong responses in the days ahead. Not the best way to win friends and influence enemies over to our side.
*** The Senate passed $700b for defense spending in 2018. In 2017 the budget request was for $582.7. In 2016 we spent $580.3b on defense. In other words this year's will be a 20% increase over last year. Course if you're gonna threaten to "totally destroy North Korea" you might wanna be prepared, right?
*** Meanwhile congressional conservatives lament we can't continue paying for these so-called "entitlements". I suppose that's true if we're gonna spend more money wrecking other peoples stuff with our military. Not to worry. There's another plan afoot. It's called "tax reform". 'Bloomberg News says, Here’s How Tax Reform Could Squeeze the Middle Class-- "Upper-middle-class taxpayers in particular could face a triple whammy. On the table are limits on—or even the elimination of—three of their favorite tax perks: deductions for mortgage interest and for state and local taxes and the ability to make pre-tax 401(k) retirement contributions.". Hey we got our priorities--you just don't happen to be one of them.
*** Speaking of entitlements-- what's with that gang over there in Norway? Turns out their pension fund is now worth $1,000,000,000,000. According to CNN--"The fund's value works out to over $190,000 for each of Norway's 5.2 million citizens.". Yeah but they don't sure don't have all the fancy military equipment we do with their Norwegian Armed Forces. Who's da' man!
*** In Pennsylvania the cost of tree trimming is about to rise dramatically. The U.S. Justice Department charged-- Asplundh, headquartered in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, is an industry leader in tree trimming and brush clearance for power and gas lines. The information alleges that in or about 2010 to on or about December 2014, Asplundh managers... directed their personnel to accept false identification from prospective employees. The acceptance of these false documents facilitated the re-hiring of Asplundh employees who had been determined previously by Homeland Security Investigations to be aliens unauthorized to work in the United States. This is good news for all you job seekers looking to get in on this exciting growing industry. No more picking apples for you. Line forms at the end.
*** Oh the horror. A free 16 day cruise. 'The New York Daily News-- "A five-day pleasure cruise turned into a 16-day "experience of a lifetime" for some Royal Caribbean travelers this month. The luxurious Majesty of the Seas was transformed into a rescue and supply ship to help victims of Hurricane Irma... Many passengers stayed on board the ship even when given a chance to disembark in Florida after a few days." Although many of the amenities like booze, unlimited food and casinos were cut off I'd still take it. Looks to me like most of the Eastern Caribbean cruises will be a washout for sometime. I suspect for many months these cruise ships will ply the Western and Southernmost areas of Caribbean instead, Visiting the Eastern & Northern Caribbean islands will not be the same for sometime. Hearts go out to Puerto Rico who looks like it will be next to be hit hard.
*** I'm extremely uninterested in awards shows for three reasons (1) They're all composed of self congratulating people full of one another patting each other on the back. (2) None of them can rein in themselves. Either they do something really stupid of shock value to get noticed OR can't refrain from politics. (3) Who cares what those voting inside their own industry think. People know what they like. They don't have to be told.
Gosh I have so much more to say. but that ought to do it for now. I've gone on too long already.
However Key West still isn't ready for visitors. According to The Monroe Tourist Development Council...
*** Trump spoke to the U.N. this morning. One headline read, ‘Rocket Man is on a Suicide Mission’: Trump Threatens to ‘Totally Destroy North Korea’--" The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”. Although that may go without saying--I'm not sure why he felt the need to say it. Some of the other stuff he said wasn't framed kindly either. Some may find it refreshing. I don't. Got to remember there are a bunch of other nations sitting there unfriendly with us who won't take his bulling too well. Many have egos as big as his. I expect strong responses in the days ahead. Not the best way to win friends and influence enemies over to our side.
*** The Senate passed $700b for defense spending in 2018. In 2017 the budget request was for $582.7. In 2016 we spent $580.3b on defense. In other words this year's will be a 20% increase over last year. Course if you're gonna threaten to "totally destroy North Korea" you might wanna be prepared, right?
*** Meanwhile congressional conservatives lament we can't continue paying for these so-called "entitlements". I suppose that's true if we're gonna spend more money wrecking other peoples stuff with our military. Not to worry. There's another plan afoot. It's called "tax reform". 'Bloomberg News says, Here’s How Tax Reform Could Squeeze the Middle Class-- "Upper-middle-class taxpayers in particular could face a triple whammy. On the table are limits on—or even the elimination of—three of their favorite tax perks: deductions for mortgage interest and for state and local taxes and the ability to make pre-tax 401(k) retirement contributions.". Hey we got our priorities--you just don't happen to be one of them.
*** Speaking of entitlements-- what's with that gang over there in Norway? Turns out their pension fund is now worth $1,000,000,000,000. According to CNN--"The fund's value works out to over $190,000 for each of Norway's 5.2 million citizens.". Yeah but they don't sure don't have all the fancy military equipment we do with their Norwegian Armed Forces. Who's da' man!
*** In Pennsylvania the cost of tree trimming is about to rise dramatically. The U.S. Justice Department charged-- Asplundh, headquartered in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, is an industry leader in tree trimming and brush clearance for power and gas lines. The information alleges that in or about 2010 to on or about December 2014, Asplundh managers... directed their personnel to accept false identification from prospective employees. The acceptance of these false documents facilitated the re-hiring of Asplundh employees who had been determined previously by Homeland Security Investigations to be aliens unauthorized to work in the United States. This is good news for all you job seekers looking to get in on this exciting growing industry. No more picking apples for you. Line forms at the end.
*** Oh the horror. A free 16 day cruise. 'The New York Daily News-- "A five-day pleasure cruise turned into a 16-day "experience of a lifetime" for some Royal Caribbean travelers this month. The luxurious Majesty of the Seas was transformed into a rescue and supply ship to help victims of Hurricane Irma... Many passengers stayed on board the ship even when given a chance to disembark in Florida after a few days." Although many of the amenities like booze, unlimited food and casinos were cut off I'd still take it. Looks to me like most of the Eastern Caribbean cruises will be a washout for sometime. I suspect for many months these cruise ships will ply the Western and Southernmost areas of Caribbean instead, Visiting the Eastern & Northern Caribbean islands will not be the same for sometime. Hearts go out to Puerto Rico who looks like it will be next to be hit hard.
*** I'm extremely uninterested in awards shows for three reasons (1) They're all composed of self congratulating people full of one another patting each other on the back. (2) None of them can rein in themselves. Either they do something really stupid of shock value to get noticed OR can't refrain from politics. (3) Who cares what those voting inside their own industry think. People know what they like. They don't have to be told.
Gosh I have so much more to say. but that ought to do it for now. I've gone on too long already.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Some Trumpsters Not Enamored With 1st Amendment
TV viewers keep asking the FCC to punish CNN for Trump coverage even though it can't
Hypocrisy Much?
Conservative media has been squawking for months complaining about how their speakers are being suppressed on college campuses and elsewhere in public. Most of the focus has been on the conservative speakers' rights to first amendment speech.
Yeah well--looks like nobody is satisfied these days
Here's what I suggest. Everybody stick a sock in it--whether it be on the right or left--don't like something--don't protest, attend, read or watch it. The more either side gets worked up the harder the other side will dig in their heels.
Speeches and rallies are practically useless. They accomplish nothing. Who cares what a bunch of blowhards who make a living off this kind of stuff at rallies, on TV, in the newspapers and on websites have to say. Nine out of ten times they only attract their own brand of followers influencing no one beyond them anyway.
Rather then worrying so much about what someone else is saying we should pay more attention to the things that really matter. Things like our commonalities rather then what divides us. No better examples were set then what happened in Houston or Florida. No one gave a damn if their neighbor was Republican, Democrat, gay or no matter what--they felt the commonality between themselves.
It seems to me unless there's a catastrophe we become bored and start playing these mindless games. Why can't we always have a mindset like this? To work towards the betterment of each another without these horrible attitudes focusing on those which we pretend makes us separate.
Yep--still works for me today.
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Some Quick Thoughts I Have
*** FOX News and it's business channel constantly whine about the mainstream media. Here's a flash--they are part of mainstream media. They along with such well-known websites as Breitbart, National Review, HotAir, Red State, The Daily Caller Drudge Report among dozens of others. Same goes for the bloviators on conservative talk radio programs. The cast includes Limbaugh, Hannity, Ingraham, O'Reilly and Savage--to name a few. I don't know how much more mainstream any of them could get.
*** All we ever hear is how broke government is getting. It doesn't matter whether it's at the federal, state, county, school districts or local level--they all claim the same. Could the reason be the largest segment of taxpayers--the middle class--has experienced a steady decline in earnings year after year. Even more so when adjusted for inflation. In about every part of the country we are seeing a explosion in the number of warehouse and service jobs paying $11-$15 an hour. Gone are the vast numbers of well paying industrial jobs. We could debate all day why this is so--but it won't change the fact less pay means less revenue for government.
*** Unfunded mandates--When the government receives less revenue it comes up with all kinds of creative schemes. One of the ugliest are these unfunded mandates. To put it simply--when the government wants to do things it can't afford it forces someone else to come up with a way to pay for it. And if they don't--imposes fines. Agencies seeing their budgets cut come up with a all kinds of new unfunded mandates. Ones which require permits along with the accompanying payment of fees for them to offset their declining incomes..
*** Tax cuts--ain't no such beast. Currently the United States is over $20 trillion in the hole. I often said I can't afford any more tax breaks. No truer will it be with whatever scheme they come up with in Washington. Whatever they come up with you best believe it will amount to little more the rearranging the deck chairs on the 'Titanic'. According to 'Pew Research' as of August 2017 this fiscal year it is projected to cost $474.5 billion on interest alone by the end of this month.
*** Pennsylvania legislators couldn't agree on how to plug a $2 billion shortfall. On Friday the state stop cutting checks for $1.7 billion intended for 2.2 million enrolled under Medicaid insurers and to the state's obligation towards school districts' pension funds. So suck it up buttercup--the checks ain't in the mail.
No worries--legislators are still getting paid on time.
*** Protests, Protests and more protests. Ain't seen nothing like em. You name it--somebody's gotta a problem with it. Rather exhausting. Kinda makes me tune out at this point.
In Local News Allentown and Easton. Storm water rain run off fees may be imposed next year Hope the future fish tank in Easton planned ahead.
Speaking of Easton-- mayor Sal Panto is upset after he was shot down by the planning commission. They rejected imposing $700,000 in fees and permits on Lafayette College. He said he needed these to balance the budget. As we all should know--you can't impose taxes on nonprofits--but you sure as hell can squeeze them for fees
Back to Allentown. This year's upcoming election will be a replay of the primaries. Nearly a half dozen candidates announced intentions of running for mayor. Short story is Pawlowski is a sure winner. Allentown voters always pull the big 'D" lever. Not that it matters anyways. No matter who wins Hess's, Western Electric nor GE is coming back. Neither will couples with kids restore single home ownership like it once use to be. It is what it is.
The best we can hope for--whoever is elected will attend council meetings and be a lot more receptive then what we've seen in the past. In other words a lot less political. Far more engaged with the peons. There's no reason why--with all the media we have available--someone in a leadership position couldn't interact more then they have in the past. This could be done through a well organized weekly/monthly town hall style program either on PBS39. WFMZ, either cable TV service or even a Q&A piece in the Morning Call. Why not all five?
Well that's about all on my mind for now. As I look back over this maybe these weren't "Quick Thoughts" after all. Sorry bout that. I'm sure there will be more to follow. Stay tuned.
*** All we ever hear is how broke government is getting. It doesn't matter whether it's at the federal, state, county, school districts or local level--they all claim the same. Could the reason be the largest segment of taxpayers--the middle class--has experienced a steady decline in earnings year after year. Even more so when adjusted for inflation. In about every part of the country we are seeing a explosion in the number of warehouse and service jobs paying $11-$15 an hour. Gone are the vast numbers of well paying industrial jobs. We could debate all day why this is so--but it won't change the fact less pay means less revenue for government.
*** Unfunded mandates--When the government receives less revenue it comes up with all kinds of creative schemes. One of the ugliest are these unfunded mandates. To put it simply--when the government wants to do things it can't afford it forces someone else to come up with a way to pay for it. And if they don't--imposes fines. Agencies seeing their budgets cut come up with a all kinds of new unfunded mandates. Ones which require permits along with the accompanying payment of fees for them to offset their declining incomes..
*** Tax cuts--ain't no such beast. Currently the United States is over $20 trillion in the hole. I often said I can't afford any more tax breaks. No truer will it be with whatever scheme they come up with in Washington. Whatever they come up with you best believe it will amount to little more the rearranging the deck chairs on the 'Titanic'. According to 'Pew Research' as of August 2017 this fiscal year it is projected to cost $474.5 billion on interest alone by the end of this month.
*** Pennsylvania legislators couldn't agree on how to plug a $2 billion shortfall. On Friday the state stop cutting checks for $1.7 billion intended for 2.2 million enrolled under Medicaid insurers and to the state's obligation towards school districts' pension funds. So suck it up buttercup--the checks ain't in the mail.
No worries--legislators are still getting paid on time.
*** Protests, Protests and more protests. Ain't seen nothing like em. You name it--somebody's gotta a problem with it. Rather exhausting. Kinda makes me tune out at this point.
Speaking of Easton-- mayor Sal Panto is upset after he was shot down by the planning commission. They rejected imposing $700,000 in fees and permits on Lafayette College. He said he needed these to balance the budget. As we all should know--you can't impose taxes on nonprofits--but you sure as hell can squeeze them for fees
Back to Allentown. This year's upcoming election will be a replay of the primaries. Nearly a half dozen candidates announced intentions of running for mayor. Short story is Pawlowski is a sure winner. Allentown voters always pull the big 'D" lever. Not that it matters anyways. No matter who wins Hess's, Western Electric nor GE is coming back. Neither will couples with kids restore single home ownership like it once use to be. It is what it is.
The best we can hope for--whoever is elected will attend council meetings and be a lot more receptive then what we've seen in the past. In other words a lot less political. Far more engaged with the peons. There's no reason why--with all the media we have available--someone in a leadership position couldn't interact more then they have in the past. This could be done through a well organized weekly/monthly town hall style program either on PBS39. WFMZ, either cable TV service or even a Q&A piece in the Morning Call. Why not all five?
Well that's about all on my mind for now. As I look back over this maybe these weren't "Quick Thoughts" after all. Sorry bout that. I'm sure there will be more to follow. Stay tuned.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Allentown's Propsed Stormwater Fee Worse Then I Thought
Two posts prior I spoke about this. It's gets crazier the more I learn.
Morning Call reporter Emily Opilo FILED THIS REPORT...
Nobody gets out of this. Not hospitals, colleges, schools, churches, county or city streets and owned properties, old folks homes, sports venues, home owners or apartments. Everyone's gonna get screwed layer upon layer as each pass along their expenses. I can't imagine how the fairgrounds will be able to sustain such an increase. I also would surmise hospitals will unload some of their properties along with dozens of businesses operating on a shoestring. I expect to see more shuttered properties then there already are. PPL plaza is already in trouble.
OMG if this goes down like they say this city is gonna go down the toilet and begin to look like Detroit.
The only reason it hasn't so far, nobody pushed the handle. This could very well be it my friend.
Welcome to the club
Now it's our turn
Denver 02/11/2013
Morning Call reporter Emily Opilo FILED THIS REPORT...
Nobody gets out of this. Not hospitals, colleges, schools, churches, county or city streets and owned properties, old folks homes, sports venues, home owners or apartments. Everyone's gonna get screwed layer upon layer as each pass along their expenses. I can't imagine how the fairgrounds will be able to sustain such an increase. I also would surmise hospitals will unload some of their properties along with dozens of businesses operating on a shoestring. I expect to see more shuttered properties then there already are. PPL plaza is already in trouble.
OMG if this goes down like they say this city is gonna go down the toilet and begin to look like Detroit.
The only reason it hasn't so far, nobody pushed the handle. This could very well be it my friend.
Now it's our turn
Denver 02/11/2013
Underage Drinking Arrests At Lehigh U.
About 80 underage drinking arrests at Lehigh in 3 weeks
Some may look upon this as a negative story regarding Lehigh University. I don't see it that way. They are doing the right thing. Kudos to the university for taking on this problem. I see few other colleges, universities or police departments meeting the challenge. If so, I'm not hearing about it publicly. Both the police and university should be commended for their efforts. Few others seem willing to admit they have a problem within their midst.
Part of educators' responsibility should be to teach students how important it is to be accountable for their actions. A skill they will need both in future employment as well as becoming better citizens. The actions being taken by the university in cooperation with the Bethlehem police contribute towards meeting such goals. When police or colleges let students slide--like they do in too many other communities--they're not doing students a service.
My attitude is this. There nothing wrong with drinking and whooping it up a bit. BUT getting snockered for four years is not why they are suppose to be there. Someone(s) who instigates and continually encourages such by their own behavior needs to be dealt with. This can be accomplished by notifying parents, arrest and expulsion if necessary.
The movie "Animal House" might have been funny as hell, but there's nothing funny about being stupid every week for four years.
This kind of behavior encourages other students who obviously can't think for themselves.
We seen this time and again. It's only a matter of time until another student gets killed somewhere this year. I seen these kind of parties myself-50 or a 100 kids raising hell partying it up in a single house. My fear is nothing will be done until a floor collapses, some kid dies or there is a fire revelers can't escape. In each of these campus security (these weren't Lehigh U parties) came escorted by the police chuckling it off as students (who knows if they all were) had been "asked" to leave. No one was carded. You damn well know most wouldn't be 21 till their 3rd or 4th year. Who's kidding who? Sometimes the worse that happened they were issued a noise citation. Hey what mom and pop don't know, right? Talk about a lawsuit just waiting to happen!
Once again-I couldn't be more supportive of Lehigh University and the Bethlehem police for what they are initiating. Both are doing a job that many other education institutions try to sweep under the carpet.
They are setting a good example. Question is--will others follow?
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