The LuLac Edition #1695, July 29th, 2011

PHOTO INDEX: "MAYBE I'M AMAZED"

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Maybe I’m Amazed…….that the national shrine in Harleigh, Luzerne County to the Sacred Heart was shut down by the Diocese. The late Father Angelo brought many religious pilgrims into the Hazleton area to worship at the Shrine. After his death the Diocese said they’d do their best to preserve the national shrine. Like they always do…………..they lied.
Maybe I’m Amazed………that the County is trying to decide what to do with Moon Lake. How about restoring it as a money maker for the county or maybe getting a national concern to take it over and bring in some revenue. Get naming rights like the Mohegan Sun Summertime Fun Park at Moon Lake.
Maybe I’m Amazed…..that the Chinese Restaurant near Sherman Hills in Wilkes Barre has been robbed 4 times in the past 12 days. Four times! I was in there and the food is very good. The people who run it and work it are hard working people. It is unconscionable that a bunch of thugs are terrorizing these good business people. Perhaps its time to stop calling the police and invest in a howitzer.
Maybe I’m Amazed……..that there is still so much disinformation about the Obama Health Care bill. Today my friend Rob Nyehard was filling in for my friend Sue Henry on WILK. He took a call from a Donna in Plains who said that she was a Republican. She said that Democrats don’t compromise and she pointed to the health care bill where she said no Republicans were ever invited in to discuss the ramifications of it. Oh yeah? If that were the case then the Democrats would have shoved through the public option. They bent over backwards to get the cooperation of Maine Senators Snow and Collins. And in the end they got nothing. Every Republican in the House and Senate voted against the health care bill. If anything the GOP was over consulted. This woman as a listener to talk radio is entitled to her opinion but she was dead wrong on her statement that the Democrats did not compromise on health care. And when people make erroneous and stupid statements like that, someone should call them out on it.
Maybe I’m Amazed……..that baseball still has not instituted instant replay on crucial calls. The other night the Pirates lost to the Braves 4-3 when an obvious tag at the plate was missed by the umpire. Even the runner who scored was shocked when it turned out he was called safe. I mean it was 2AM in the bottom of the 19th, did the ump have a hot date?
Maybe I’m Amazed……..at the intricacies involved in restoring the Luzerne County Courthouse. I drove by there the other day and the workers are really turning in a stellar performance.
Maybe I’m Amazed……..at the huge mess Speaker of the House John Boehner finds himself in. I don’t envy him at all. He waited for this opportunity all of his life and then got stuck with a majority made up of unreasonable singularly focused freshmen who he can’t control. These guys don’t care about seniority, perks, they can’t be gotten to, which normally might be a good thing. But Boehner won the House last year with a segment of a majority that just wants to blow the place up.
Maybe I’m Amazed…….that we will soon find out the fate of convicted former Judge Mark Ciavarella. He will be sentenced on August 11th and you can bet that he won’t get the 7 years he originally plead to in January of 2009. Experts are saying he’ll get more than that and be carted away that same day. I’m thinking he’ll get 13 years and be given a month to get his affairs in order.
Maybe I’m Amazed…….that it took this long for the baseball Hall of Fame to discover that long time uber collector Barry Halper’s items were bogus. Halper donated signed uniforms to the Hall which he said were originally Ruth’s, Cobb’s and Shoeless Joe Jackson’s. He also claimed to have a lock of hair from the Babe. After the toilet paper magnate died in 1999 an auction at Southebey’s brought in millions to his family. Celebrities were not immune from his fraud. Actor Billy Crystal who produced the movie “61” thought he was getting a centerfielder’s glove from Mickey Mantle circa 1960. Turned out the glove wasn’t even manufactured until 1964 and Mantle never used it until 1966. Crystal paid over $150,000 for it. When you are looking at autographs, beware. There are a lot of card dealers that will give you a line of bull a mile long. No autograph is authentic unless you were there in front of the guy to get it yourself. Halper was a 2% owner of the Yankees and even had Yankee greats participate in a DVD about his collection. Turns out the guy was full of crap and a fraud.
Maybe I’m Amazed……….that two Pittston men stole a parking meter. I’m equally amazed that said meter was found in their apartment. They were going to smash it open for coins. This is Pittston, how big could the take have been?
Maybe I’m Amazed…….that so many residents don’t see the correlation between state and federal cuts to social services and the increase in violent crime. Guys, there is a connection.
Maybe I'm Amazed.........that the cast of Jersey Shore, a program I do not watch starring a troll like woman called Snookey did this season's show in Italy. The crew was under the impression that Pope Benedict hung out in Florence. Enough said. And these people get paid to be idiots.