Trump and Hegseth As War Criminals

Although too many Republicans, sycophants and cultists don't want to admit it, more and more of the world is viewing Trump and Hegseth as war criminals. Trump's statements have long been unpresidential, but now they are becoming downright uncivilized.

So the world knows that Trump is unqualified as a president, but when does our congress stand up? Yesterday he babbled to the world that if he destroys the power plants and bridges in Iran, the people are willing to suffer for a new government there. Of course he also called them animals, and encouraged them to protest last month, because he had their backs.

I notice on the blogs that he is defended by the anonymous. I can understand them not wanting to sign their name to such comments.

Allentown Chronicles Going Private

Several years ago, I started a new local Facebook group titled Allentown Chronicles.  My goal was for a group somewhat more historically oriented than the existing nostalgia groups, where members keep asking which shop had the best pizza or chili sauce. There's nothing wrong with nostalgia, and those groups are very popular, but there was no need for an additional one.

As administrator I have rejected countless people, from mostly the third world, who would like to sell the members a sweatshirt with Allentown printed on it.  While this was burdensome, I preferred  keeping the group public so that any current or former Allentonian had easy access.  The ever changing Facebook is now changing the guidelines, and anybody can join a public group without approval. 

On November 8th the group will become private. If you have been visiting the page but haven't yet joined, you may want to do so in the next few days. 

Shown above was a father promoting the Easter Egg Hunt in Little Lehigh Manor in the 1950's. Allentown has changed a lot since then, and the group-- through posts and personal anecdotes-- tries to provide a place for these recollections. 

photo courtesy of the Williams' family

above reprinted from November 5, 2021 

ADDENDUM APRIL 6, 2026: The Chronicles has continued to grow, and is pushing toward 11k members. While my posts there still reflect my personal experiences, more posts by others are becoming Wikipedia based. I have relaxed the guidelines somewhat, but try and keep the group unique. 

Here on Molovinsky, things have become somewhat more chaotic. My disillusionment with the Trump administration has alienated some of my readers. My unwillingness to continually beat up Tuerk has alienated some others. Allentown is a very different city than the one I grew up in. I still take the city, and especially the park department to task, but for 2020 standards, not those from 1955. And I still appreciate your readership.

Coincidence or Harassment?

Yesterday afternoon, after my post about the Kid Rock flyby, I got quite a surprise. A loud whirling noise awoke me from my prescribed afternoon nap. Outside my window, two large BlackHawk helicopters were circling my property, and one landed in my backyard. Before the soldiers got to my door, I photographed the copter still airborne.

I decided to open the door, rather than have them break it down. They grabbed my camera and took the film out. Unknown to them, I had also taken a photo with my cellphone. I called my congressman, Ryan Mackenzie, to complain, but nobody from his office returned my message.

I also called the office of the Attorney General, but apparently Pam Bondi is having her own issues. When a small town pizza blogger gets harassed, who is safe?  I guess you are, commenting anonymously, but I'd rather...

ADDENDUM: Secretary of War Hegseth removed the Chief of Staff yesterday, General Randy George. Fortunately, at this time, we're not involved in any military operations, which could be compromised by such a change.

ADDENDUM 10:00AM: Today Hegseth changed a long standing policy, and servicemen will be able to carry personal weapons on military bases. He brayed that he was honoring their 2nd Amendment rights. I know that there are military police and guards who are armed.  If Hegseth has the institutional military knowledge to make such a major change, I sincerely doubt. One wonders if the timing indicated that General George wasn't on board with the plan.

photocredit:molovinsky/vicinityofPatrickAF/SpaceForceBase

Flyby For Kid Rock

Army helicopters gave Kid Rock a private airshow. The White House musical favorite posted pictures on social media, causing some pushback. The base commandeer (101st), disciplined the pilots, but Secretary of War Hegseth overruled the suspensions.

When you have politics mixing in with military discipline, what could go wrong. It's not like we're in a war, rather just some conflict that President Trump sees ending soon.

He's going to address the nation Wednesday evening (It is 5:00 PM Wednesday as I pen this). Hopefully the public won't be distracted by the first moon launch in 53 years, and save their attention for President Trump. He's mad at NATO because they haven't come to our defense, but that's because we weren't attacked.

ADDENDUM 9:20PM: A delusional speech by a blowhard. If you're a Republican incumbent, such as our Ryan Mackenzie, and you don't open your mouth now, happy trails to you.

Trumps On Trump

Yesterday, Eric Trump was presenting plans of the proposed library for his father. DeSantis was renaming the Palm Beach airport for Trump. The library would be the tallest building in Miami, perhaps 47 stories tall. I seriously doubt that Trump ever read 47 books.

While my economy cable package does not provide the American standards like CNN or Fox, I do get the European stations. Let's just say that there is nobody in the world envious of our leadership. Between the East Wing ballroom and the proposed Arc, the self admiration is unprecedented. If we weren't bombing Iran, and if gasoline wasn't over $4 a gallon, it might be more amusing, but as things stand, it is just pathological.

The narcissism is one thing, the war is another. Trump can change his mind three times a day, or fifteen times a week, but those suffering loses in Tehran will have long memories, generational memories. Trump didn't understand why he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize last year. I don't think he is going to get it next year either.

Lilly Of The Valley

 I had to snicker when I read about the new Rt. 78 exit to accommodate the coming Lilly Plant. I snickered again when the article mentioned Don Cunningham. If there was any institutional knowledge about the valley, these developments wouldn't be heralded as such positives.

If you want to see a crime against the valley, drive on Rt. 22 before dawn or close to sunset. Although PennDOT planned to widen 22 over a decade ago, former influential state senator Pat Browne had that plan put on hold, so that the funding could be redirected to benefit the Jaindl holdings west of Allentown. Lo and behold, on Saturday the Morning Call reported that Lilly chose the area because of the new planned entrance/exit ramp.

So, while thousands of people sit bumper to bumper, day in and day out, on a road designed in the 1950's through Allentown and Bethlehem, we are told by Donny Cunningham that we won the brass ring?

Allentown Bails Out Real Estate Speculator, Again

When the Allentown Park system purchased two distressed brown fields from Abe Atiyeh, this park advocate complained. I know both the parcels well. The land down by Basin and Union Streets had no market value in the real world. In an old industrial area, where no industry remains, it also has no residential appeal. The other parcel, the old fertilizer rendering plant, also in a flood plain, also had no market. When the price got low enough, speculator Abe Atiyeh purchased them. Who knew that Ed Pawlowski, who always put himself ahead of the city, would buy them to expand and connect the park system. In my informed opinion, they can't properly take care of the existing system.

Atiyeh also purchased the nearby former quarry parcel, which later functioned as a cement mixing plant. The Allentown School system is purchasing that parcel from Atiyeh for future expansion of the Union Terrace Elementary School. Last time I checked, the Atiyeh parcel was across Union Street, and behind and beyond the sports fields.

The Allentown School District is distressed, not only in the classrooms, but on the board and in the administration.

Taking One Too Many For The Family

The fight magazines described Abe Simon as the giant from New York. He and my mother were cousins, and that connection sparked my interest in the Joe Louis era of boxing. Abe wanted to go to college, he had a scholarship, but his mother wanted him to fight... that's how tough times were in the late 1930's. Abe won his first thirteen fights, even knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott. 

In the fight shown above, Simon went toe to toe with Louis for thirteen rounds. That toughness earned him another title shot at Madison Square Garden in 1942. The first overhead strobe ring photo was of that fight. Another interest of mine remains B&W photography, and that era of boxing produced some classic shots. Those interested in the Joe Louis era might enjoy my December 2012 archive, which contains many of my boxing posts.

That 1942 title fight with Louis was the last of 47 bouts for Abe, although he had good offers to continue boxing. He had small parts in several films, including On The Waterfront and Requiem For A Heavyweight. He worked as a referee and for a Long Island police department. In his last years, he worked in several capacities at the Roosevelt Racetrack.