Art In The Rose Garden

A statue in the Rose Garden has been removed to be refurbished. The sculpture honestly wasn't on my radar until Friday, when I noticed some large equipment for its removal. That equipment included an engine type lift, and a very large truck crane. On Saturday, I noticed that the bronze statue apparently lifted right off the base, perhaps making the heavy equipment unnecessary.

Allow me to expand my confession to admit that I didn't realize that the sculpture was also sort of a water feature, a bird bath. The Smithsonian notes that it was created by George Thomas Brewster in 1925. It was commissioned by Harold S. MacLaine in memory of his wife, and originally placed in the park by Trout Hall. The rose garden was began in 1930-31, so the sculpture had been moved from its original location.

Shown above is an early morning view of the sculpture by Lehigh Valley photographer Jason Fink.

photocredit:Jason Fink

Burnout Rally For Burnt-Out City

The other day a Burnout Rally took place on Union Blvd., by the former Western Electric. It was obviously organized and publicized, with a large turnout. A video circulating on social media caught an Allentown Police car driving by.

Yesterday, around 5:00PM, I witnessed a car back up and park on the corner of 7th and Linden. Not near the corner, but on the corner. The driver locked the car and strolled away. Across the street an Allentown Police officer was directing traffic out of the parking garage, and ignored the illegal parking. Meanwhile, a three wheel motorcycle blaring a stereo loud enough to be heard for blocks was also ignored by the officer.

I now realize that my excursion, annoying as it was, could have been much worse. Thirty minutes later, there was a shooting at 8th & Linden. The decline seems fast and steep.

Insult At Quantico

My military experience is limited to having ridden past Quantico a few times on the train. However, the President addressing all the assembled generals has no more experience than me. He didn't even understand why they didn't laugh at his jokes. He doesn't understand that they are supposed to be apolitical. When he suggests that they practice warfare on civilians in our cities, he demonstrates a dangerous kindergarten comprehension of our government.

I doubt that even many Republican veterans could appreciate the reason for the conclave assembled at Quantico. It could not have been more ill advised from any viewpoint.

Fortunately for us, we have a very disciplined military. I expect the fallout will be limited to eye rolling. They knew Trump is a moron, and now they know the same about Hegseth. Hegseth said that generals who do not agree with his agenda should resign. Most of those generals earned their stripes the hard, long way, and know that the constitution will hopefully improve the current situation in another three and a half years.

Witnessing History

On Monday afternoon, President Trump said I got to witness the greatest accomplishment in civilization. Well maybe, if Hamas accepts the deal, it is an accomplishment. Greatest in history? That statement is one for psychology, not history. 

Netanyahu said that if they didn't do it the easy way, they would have to do it the hard way. What was hard was watching them say so little, with so much pomp. I hope that for the hostages and the Palestinians, Hamas accepts the proposal, but my regard for both Trump and Netanyahu won't improve.

I think that Trump should say nothing without a teleprompter, not even hello or goodbye.

Tenderizing MacKenzie

I grew up working in a meat market. People often would buy a round steak, and ask the clerk to tenderize it. You ran it through a machine with steel teeth on opposing rollers. Those thousand perforations made the lower cost tough steak tender. 

Multiple ads in the Morning Call have been tenderizing Mackenzie for next year's election. They don't really expect Mackenzie to vote against the administration's budget, but the purpose is to suggest to the voters that he's voting against their interests.

Although the Democrats won't be deciding on Mackenzie's opponent until next May, expect to receive many mailers and see many ads in the meantime. Money is no object when they attempt to turn a tough cut into hamburger.

Looking Like The Students

Nobody wants to be called a racist, and everybody walks on eggshells when discussing the current situation in the Allentown School District. The recent fad in urban education was that the person who the students see in leadership, should look like them, and that meant black or brown, but not white.

School Boards have hired Superintendents of color, who in turn hired principals of color. There has developed a large demand for a rather smaller pool of qualified candidates, who meet the color test. Here in Allentown, the superintendent we hired was actually paid off to leave a similar position in New England. We in turn have just suspended, with pay, a new principal at Harrison Morton, who kicked out the window in a police cruiser last weekend. 

The core of school directors who adhered to the color test are not running for reelection. By good fortune, we have a pool of new candidates, who are very qualified to improve the district.