Local Government TV

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Morning Call Whispers

Former Morning Call photojournalist Betty Cauler, who took a buy out last August, has a blog appropriately called The Afterlife of Betty Cauler. It is so well-written I find myself wondering whether she should have been writing, too.

According to a recent entry, the paper's most recent round of layoffs follows a visit from The Tribune's Chief Innovation Officer Lee Abrams, who apparently doubles as The Grim Reaper, as you can see in her graphic. She also claims the rumors of Editor Ardith Hilliard's eventual departure are true. She reportedly has a year to decide whether to take a buy out.

She also describes her final day. "There was no retirement party, no gold watch, no thank you from the president for long years of service, no cake with my picture embossed upon it, just a quiet day by myself in the empty newsroom of the Easton Bureau."

79 comments:

  1. Did you ever read any of the "Think Pieces" Abrams sends out to the masses? The guy is so full of shit his breath stinks, and Zell is paying him hundreds of thousands to guarantee the expedited demise of the papers.

    So AH is out one way or the other? Never want to see anyone lose their job, but I guess my tipster had it more right than wrong. Too bad AH didn't return your calls to confirm or deny. Apparently, anyone and everyone is fair game, except them.

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  2. As a fan of Ms. Cauler's beautiful photography for many years, I suspect she devoted much of her career to M.C. I am sorry to learn she was "let go."

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  3. Predict paper will close and the Allentown building to become an expansive social service multi-faceted community center, a bigger Alliance Hall. Current owners according to source fired the classified section ladies one would speak to in the lobby. Now all communication via Internet or phone. The front doors locked and under police guard to keep out the reading public. Those peasants.

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  4. Sad for the late great Morning Call. Alot of great, intelligent and good fun reporters. The most compromised editorial board but no one institution is perfect

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  5. A sign of the future. Reporters moving to the blog sites? The world's changing. I wonder how it will all shake out in the coming years.

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  6. Bernie O'Hare is a "writer" too.

    Some of the pseudonyms he uses include "The Banker," "Retired ASD Teacher," "Politically Neutral," "KathyD," "Jonah," and countless "anonymous" (wink wink) commenters.

    O'Hare is a fraud and you're being duped by a Master Liar.

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  7. The more and more I read these posts, the more and more I think they are correct. Hopefully, someone will contact me. I would like to discuss them and their contents further.

    Peace be with you, ~~Alex

    ReplyDelete
  8. "I think they are correct." *Fr. Alex

    It's definitely true. Bernie O'Hare is "The Banker," "Retired ASD Teacher," "Politically Neutral," "KathyD," "Jonah," and countless "anonymous" (wink wink) commenters.

    O'Hare is a fraud and you're being duped by a Master Liar.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Retired ASD Teacher here. The REAL one.

    Well . .. .

    Bill, you keep pushing to the limit. So, here goes.

    Would you be interested in putting up $1000 each to once and for all demonstrate who really is Retired ASD Teacher?

    You know, if you can prove I am Bernie, you get $1000 paid by me to your favorite charity.

    Conversely, if there really is a separate person posting as Retired ASD Teacher (me) who IS NOT Bernie O'Hare, then you pay $1000 to my favorite charity.

    What do you say?

    It's put-up or shut-up time, my friend, and I'm prepared to do just that. Are you, big guy?

    By the way, I won't be back online till at least 10pm, but, I'm sure we can work something out soon.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fellows, I have a much easier way to solve this.

    "Retired ASD Teacher" worked with Mrs. Villa...had "cafeteria duty" with her, as "Retired ASD Teacher" hs said in a comment, here, a while back.

    So this is simple. "Retired ASD Teacher" (who Mrs. Villa will recognize, and, know) goes over to the Villas house and collects the thousand dollars. That's the most definitive proof we'll get here. What do you say, O'Hare?

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  11. the villa's know the comments are from real people, they claim they're made up to cover the deceit on their blog. they write such things to purposefully annoy. recently they also commented that they were disappointed in politically neutral, indicating that they know he also is real. hopefully when mrs. villa was working as a teacher, she was not yet so truth challenged.

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  12. "Politically Neutral" is Bernie O'Hare.

    So is "The Banker"

    "Retired ASD Teacher"

    "KathyD"

    "Jonah"

    and countless "anonymous" (wink wink) commenters.

    O'Hare is a fraud and you're being duped by a Master Liar.

    ReplyDelete
  13. open letter to kathyd, i see you made a sincere effort to communicate with the villa's and in return your sincerity was mocked by again alleging you're bernie. please consider they know also that the retired school teacher and others are real people. they continually claim i'm part of the troll blog which isn't true; i did say i understand why bernie started it after the villa's highjacked his comment section. out of over 600 comments, only 9 are from me. most of the comments on the troll blog are by villa himself, using his own name. although bernie is devoid of tact, one can only conclude that indeed the villa's are trolls.

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  14. I see a comment criticizing Mr. Ohare for his unjustified attacks om Ardith Hilliard have been removed. Truth hurts.

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  15. Okay Mr. Villa, it's put up or shut up time..you've been called out so now is the time to prove your allegations. And while you're at it, show what proof you have that I am Bernie as well. But we all know you won't because you can't...just saying something doesn't make it so.

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  16. "I see a comment criticizing Mr. Ohare for his unjustified attacks om Ardith Hilliard have been removed. Truth hurts."

    The comment was deleted, not because it took me to task, but because you combined that with the typical ad hominem.

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  17. Also, for weeks I have been asking Mr. Villa and the anoymous blogger to contact me. Maybe I could be of some pastoral assistance? I have tried to reach out. But no one has met me half way or at least showed any interest. (My email address is on my blogger page.)

    In making an assumption, and I can be incorrect, I don't think they want any help. They might just be happy, being miserable. Whatever floats their boats. It takes all kinds of people to make this world go around.

    Peace be with you, ~~Alex

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  18. Hello folks, I was unable to get on a PC for most of the afternoon. This evening I was at a county council meeting until until just a few moments ago.

    I know this is hard, but will ask that you all try your best to just ignore Villa. He posted at 2:50, 3:31, 6:00, 6:24 and has about four or five additional comments that I have deleted or will delete.

    But I can't delete his comments when you respond to them.

    Even Villa does not believe his lies. He knows these are lies. But he is telling a big lie and repeating it in the hope that some of my readers will either be gullible or, more likely, disgusted by these comment threads.

    His purpose is NOT to convince you of what he himself knows is untrue. Rather, his goal is to ruin this blog with his childish nonsense. He already knows that he and his wife have no credibility, but wants to destroy credibnility of the blog here.

    If he can't do that, he wants me to enable comment moderation to destroy the interactive feature. I refuse to do that.

    This hijacking, in addition to being disrespectful to my readers, is also an insult to the woman I featured on my post today.

    Retired ASD, I suggest you go to Villa's house and collect your $1,000. And I hope your favorite charity is me.

    We all have more interesting things to dsiscuss than Villa. I will delete him when I see him here. I am sometimes away from a PC. Rest assured, I will delete him.

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  19. Retired ASD teacher here.

    Hi, all!

    I would go directly over to the Villa's to say "Hi" and collect $1000, but frankly, I suspect Bill wouldn't actually hand it over. Secondly, based upon Bill's obsessive behavior as I witness here, I simply don't want to go there alone.

    I made the challenge, and I'm quite serious. If Bill is equally serious and convinced, he can post here and accept the challenge.

    We can then go about selecting a third party to receive each of our stakes.

    Till then, I'll take Bernie's advice and not bring up this idea again, nor will I refute the validity of Bill's erroneous posts that claim I am Bernie.

    Should this challenge NOT be answered, it should be quite clear to all who read here, I am not Bernie.

    (and thank goodness for that!)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mr. Retired ASD teacher, I would be more than happy to escort you. I, for one, have grown weary of this whack job Villa.

    Villa, everyone who reads this blog gets what you're about. And you've had plenty of opportunity to spout your nonsense. Now, quit being such a girly man. Because that's really all you are, a whiney, pussy little girly man. You've got no balls, boy, you're just a keyboard terrorist.

    Everyone else, please pardon my language.

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  21. I hope Villa accepts your challenge. It should be easy to find a third party willing to hold the money. It should also be easy for you to meet Villa or his wife in some public place where you don't need to worry about him doing something cRaZy. I'd suggest a local police dstation. Once you collect your $1,000, I want to tell you about this special charity for bloggers in need, Bernie's Buddies.

    But since Villa knows he is lying, he'll run from your offer.

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  22. ASD Teacher,

    What odds are you giving? LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'll hold onto the $$$. I was always taught: Charity starts in the home.

    Unfortunately, I can't my rector to see that point.

    But I didn't get into this to make big bucks. Looks like I will be a ward of the state one day. Poor house here I come.

    Peace be with you, ~~Alex

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  24. Gentlemen,

    I would be happy to arrange to collect and hold the $1,000.

    Of course, I will HOLD ONTO the $1,000! :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Mr. O'hare:

    How was it ad hominem for me to point out that I thought you were out of line for discussing Ardith Hilliard's personal job options?

    She is not elected, nor does she have to seel your approval of how she does her job. I only pointed out that I wondered how you would feel if how you performed your obligations as a title searcher were scrutinized publicly.

    That is a fair comparison to make, not an ad hominem attack as you claim.

    I respectfully disagree with you.

    Walk a mile in her shoes, and see how you like it.

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  26. Kathy D here - Thanks to MM for the open letter. I think we're ALL kinda screwy for continuing to post off-topic replies about or to the V's. I genuinely feel badly for them. I think the blogosphere has a way of making everyone look crazy, though. Anyways, I am definitely up for $1000, and I know for sure I'm not a villa. I'm just a mom in my kitchen between duties.

    More on topic, though, Ardith Hilliard is, indeed, a public figure. She may not have been elected, but she sure is in the public eye. Any comments about her or her personal job options are completely in line with the topic at hand.

    Also, the 3rd comment from the top regarding the state of the MC building is my worst nightmare. What will happen to downtown once that building is vacant?? I don't see the Morning Call making it til the end of '09. I never read the paper paper anymore - just the website. I would cancel my subscription, but at this point, I consider it charity. Too bad it's not tax deductable. There's nothing better than a Sunday morning with coffee and a real newspaper. Too bad I have to cross state lines to get a "real" newspaper these days.

    Peace to all and HAPPY FRIDAY!!

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  27. "How was it ad hominem for me to point out that I thought you were out of line for discussing Ardith Hilliard's personal job options?"

    That is not, but your comment was mixed up with ad hominems, too. I like disagreement, but you will be civil or I will delete you. You weren't really interessted in making a point - you just wanted to take a shot.

    On to the merits. Ardith Hilliard is editor of one of the top 100 papers in the country. The declining newspaper is one of the top stories in this country. What happens to Hilliard is newsworthy by just about any yardstick. it is certainly blogworthy.

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  28. KathyD,

    I was unaware that the Villas had taunted you on their blog until I read MM's comment last night. It looks like you visited their site to comment cand clarify who you are, and the Villas graciously responded by mocking and taunting you.

    I am sorry to see you punished for commenting here.

    We're all waiting for his response to Retired ASD Teacher's offer. For the past week, he has come on the blog daily, at the crack of dawn, to make his claim that I am 20,000 different commenters. One of them challenges him, and Villa suddenly clams up.

    Folks, I would ask that, to the extent humanly possible, you ignore Villa in future posts. I can't always gfet to his comments right away but will delete him as soon as I see him, except for here.

    We're waiting, Villa.

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  29. Ironically, instead of responding to Retired ASD Teacher's challenge here, Villa instead posted his accusation on another entry at 4:52 AM. He and his wife also claim to have a "smoking gun" that proves I am KathyD.

    That is interesting news, both to KathyD and me. She got past the Villas' velvet rope and was published there again.

    Since the Villa claim to have irrefutable post, let me be clear again. I am not any of the people Villa has falsely claimed I am. They are not me, and each has his or her own writing style.

    I do not post anonymously or use any sock puppets and do not impersonate other people, something that Villa does with reckless abandon. he does this, not because he believes it, but because he wishes to destroy the local blogosphere.

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  30. Bernie, I have a question. What type of information can you access about posters here? I mean, can you tell anything other than my ISP location?

    Can a commenter on a blog be identified by the blog's owner?

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  31. KathyD,

    If you scroll down to the bottom of my blog, you will see a sitemeter. It tracks visitors. I kept it open for everyone. For the last 125 visitors, you can get the ISP, all but one digit of the IP, the time the person visited, where he/she came from, and where he/she went.

    If the person makes a comment, there is often a back link. Now if I move fast, I can sometimes track a person who makes outrageous comments. You can, too.

    That's just another reason why Villa's accusations are baloney. It's something I've pointed out before. Every person who comments here has different IPs.

    Now some people try to use anonymyzers to escape detection, but that is hit and miss.

    So it is possible to track someone. I've done it.

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  32. the villa's posted a rather long list of accusations, mainly against o'hare and myself. without exception, everything on that list is the exact behavior they indulge in. they seem to take some sort of perverse pleasure in accusing others of their own behavior, even incorporating the words others have used to describe their bizarreness. i have become their target because i take them to task on a regular basis, most others walk on egg shells hoping to be spared their abuse.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Bernie - Tx for the info. That is amazing! I checked out sitemeter, and it has given me a lot to consider.

    I was just reading about a Texas judge who is forcing Topix to release the identities of several posters who made disparaging comments.

    It all points to a true lack of anonymity on the internet. I will stick to posting comments, but I will also continue to only post comments that I would be comfortable saying at a neighborhood party or similar venue. Nothing is anonymous.

    MM - what you refer to is called "projecting." People "project" onto others what they know to be true about themselves. At least, that's what I read in my psych classes. Who knows. I don't know the Villas or Bernie O'Hare or any of you personally, so I will refrain from judging, but I gotta say...we all look kinda crazy! ;)

    Again, I'm sorry this is all off-topic.

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  34. "It all points to a true lack of anonymity on the internet. I will stick to posting comments, but I will also continue to only post comments that I would be comfortable saying at a neighborhood party or similar venue. Nothing is anonymous."

    Yes and no. Anonymous speech is protected. Supreme Court candidate Judge Orie Melvin spent 5 years in two different states trying to force courts to order ISPs to reveal who was criticizing her. She lost ervery time.

    But criminal behavior is not protected. Nor is defamation. We all own our words.

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  35. "KathyD" is Bernie O'Hare.

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  36. Put your money where your mouth is, Villa. Not doing so is ... pusillanimous.

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  37. Bernie,

    Thanks, man. I was really out of it.

    I felt like I was rolling on the floor and foaming at the mouth.

    That flu was horrible. This is the sober reality that I needed. Thanks, ~~Alex

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  38. Without exception, everything on that list is the exact behavior they indulge in.


    Sounds more like their confession...

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  39. There is such great Irony here.

    Bernie now claims he can track down anonymous commenters:

    If you scroll down to the bottom of my blog, you will see a sitemeter. It tracks visitors. I kept it open for everyone. For the last 125 visitors, you can get the ISP, all but one digit of the IP, the time the person visited, where he/she came from, and where he/she went.

    If the person makes a comment, there is often a back link. Now if I move fast, I can sometimes track a person who makes outrageous comments. You can, too.

    I thought a court order was needed for that, are you now a judge? When did Rendell appoint you?

    What I find even more remarkable is that Bernie was the person teaching people how this all works.

    I know of several people who have an even greater defense to Bernie, they don't read his blog, and if asked they shrug.

    "Retired ASD, I suggest you go to Villa's house and collect your $1,000. And I hope your favorite charity is me. "

    Uh, Bern, isn't that inciting harassment?

    Why don't you and Villa both admit you were wrong?

    I see this continuing to escalate, and I have no doubt it could end in violence. That could be prevented, but instead the two of you continue egging each other on. You're like two BMOC's in the halls at Dieruff in 82.

    Grow UP!

    You will probably delete this as what you call an "Ad hominem " attack, but I ask some pretty sincere and relevant questions here. How do you have the authority to make these claims? How do you prove them in court?

    I think you are as sensationalistic as the jokers covering A-Rod and Bonds, and that, Mr. Blogger, is what determines your level of credibility.

    I give Villa zero, but you are fast approaching his level.

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  40. "Put your money where your mouth is, Villa." -Disgraced Ex-Attorney Bernie O'Hare

    All good things to those who wait, Clarice.

    ReplyDelete
  41. anon 9:09, this morning on the villa blog, he challenges bernie and retired teacher to come over to his house, prove' retired' isn't bernie, and collect the $1000. this visit would not be harassment, it's by invitation. in the past "retired" has stated he has some fear about villa, not unwarranted. i'd be glad to accompany "retired" to villa's and prove once and for all, what neurotic liar's the villa's are.

    ReplyDelete
  42. "this visit would not be harassment, it's by invitation." -Gladys Kravitz

    But Villa's invitation to O'Hare to settle their differences via fistfight IS harassment, just so I have this straight...

    ReplyDelete
  43. dear anon 10:39, please tell your friend villa that when a 54year old man(?) invites a 58 year old man for a fistfight, he's an asshole

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  44. Dear Mr. Molovinskli, I'm telling Mr. Villa to consider you showing up on his front porch with "Retired ASD Teacher" as your acceptance of an invitation to a fist fight.

    And please tell your friend KathyD O'Hare that he has been documenting his pusillanimous for all to see at this here thread ;) so thanks

    ReplyDelete
  45. "I thought a court order was needed for that, are you now a judge? When did Rendell appoint you?"

    No court order is needed for anything I described concerning sitemeter. Under the Pa. Coonstitution, we have a right to protect our reputation. For that reason, you should never write anyything anonymously that would shame you if your name was attached to it. Making idle threats and slurs can come back and bite you in the ass. Anonymous policical speech is protected, but criminal harassment and defamation is not.

    "I know of several people who have an even greater defense to Bernie, they don't read his blog, and if asked they shrug."

    That's fine yet here you are on a Saturday morning, pecking away.

    "Why don't you and Villa both admit you were wrong? I see this continuing to escalate, and I have no doubt it could end in violence. That could be prevented, but instead the two of you continue egging each other on. You're like two BMOC's in the halls at Dieruff in 82."

    Let's get a few things straight. There is no doubt in my mind that this situation is a powder keg and that Villa is violent. He uses the language of violence and has made numerous threats. He's just claimed that if Retired ASD Teacher shows up at his doorstep, it is an acceptance of an invitation to a fist fight. He is a violent person.

    On EVERY entry I published this week, Villa has posted the OT remark that I am KathyD, Retired ASD, etc., etc., He knows this is untrue, yet makes the claim to disrupt this blog and force me to enable comment moderation.

    Retired ASD Teacher gave the Villas some information about different room numbers and staff workers that only the teachers at that specific school would know. Since they rejected that, he has offered to meet them so they can see for themselves that he is who he says he is. But he has attached a $1,000 condition. Villa and he both have to agree to put up $1,000 with a third party. Villa should pay a price for his continued lies.

    Now Villa has suggested that Retired ASD Teacher should just drop by his house, but why on earth would he voluntarily involve himself in a fist fight? Teachers are supposed to discourage, not encourage, that type of behavior.

    What Retired ASD Teacher has proposed is that Villa and he put up $1,000 with some person who should not be hard to find, and then they meet at a public setting where there can be none of the violence to which Villa repeatedly refers.

    In short, it is time for Villa to put up or shut up.

    Instead of responding to Retired ASD Teacher's reasonable offer, Villa has continued posting his false claims, which I have continually deleted.

    He has invited someone to his house, but claims that he will be walking into a fistfight if he accepts.

    Finally, he claims to have irrefutable proof that I am Katrhy D, and Upper Macungie mother of grade school children selling girls scout cookies.

    I have posted blogs all week, none of which relate to Villa. I am interested in local government anbd many other issues. I am NOT interested in Villa or his false claims. I have steered conversation away from Villa, except on this particular entry where people responded to Villa before I could delete this troll.

    This mess has nothing to do with me. I'm a victim here, pal.

    Villa, we're all waiting for you to put up or shut up. Then it's Retired ASD teacher's turn. Stop threatening fist fights and put up the $1,000 that you know you are going to lose.

    ReplyDelete
  46. on the villa blog mrs. villa also claims they will be home all day if retired school teacher wishes to stop by, and at the same time their anon sock puppet here refers to fistfights. this woman was a public school teacher and fancies herself a community activist?

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  47. I know I shouldn't entice further fireworks, but this might be helpful or not.

    Is Villa going to post his address?

    Or instead, where is the public site for the meeting; I would like photographic proof and a banker's note of the transaction. Do we know any bankers?

    Sorry Bernie. Getting rid of some mid-term frustration and the last remmenants of the flu. ~~Alex

    ReplyDelete
  48. "Retired ASD Teacher" is Bernie O'Hare.

    ReplyDelete
  49. So is "The Banker"

    "KathyD"

    "Jonah"

    and the "Tool" character.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I have it on good authority that "Retired ASD Teacher" would be perfectly safe on Villa's front porch.

    Molovinsky ... not so much.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I can't believe this conversation is still going on! We are all nuts-o, that's for sure.

    I believe there is a line that can be crossed in the blogosphere, and ya'll are stepping right on it.

    Read what's happening in Texas:
    http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/020809dnmetlawsuit.2bd48105.html

    The government is bound to limit or at least govern what we say online to others eventually. People can get out of control on any topix thread, or a blog...such as this blog. If we abuse our rights now in the Blogosphere, we will lose our rights later.

    Although, it sure is entertaining. It's kind of like watching a train wreck or something - you know you should turn away, but just can't. The thing is LVR's focus remains on other political issues that are actually important. I haven't seen a lot of volume on Villa's site, other than snarky posts from all of us, myself included.

    It's an interesting human nature study. What makes us so adversarial?

    I remain your upper mac mom in her kitchen...

    ReplyDelete
  52. Fr. Alex, I truly am a banker, and Bernie knows who I am as we've exchanged emails often.

    However, I do not want to be personally involved in this for professional as well as personal reasons. Given some of the public people who've stepped up, I think finding someone trustworthy to play that role is the easy part.

    The Banker

    ReplyDelete
  53. Retired ASD teacher here.

    Hi, all!

    I think this whole issue made an important step today, and I'm pleased.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Banker, Teacher, KathyD, Mike, AJ, et all,and (most importantly) Bernie and even the Villas:

    I was just joking with some of my last posts. I was being my normal sarcastic self. Mid-terms and the flu have gotten the best of me. I apologize at having fun at others expense.

    But I am glad that at least someone here thinks that progess is being made. Because these matters have been on my mind and have gotten my prayerful attention.

    I hope that this can be rectified soon. And we can get on with posting about "pay to play", bad cheesecake, Mike Koury and Sam Murray (some good Lebanese brothers) becoming the Common Pleas Judges, and so on.

    As usual, please pray for me. You are in mine.

    Peace be with you, ~~Alex

    ReplyDelete
  55. I know Retired ASD Teacher and many other interesting commenters thru this blog. He actually treated me to a steak dinner!

    I appreciate and understand their desire to remain anonymous. People like Retired ASD Teacher or The Banker or Jonah or KathyD have never used their anonymoity to launch personal attacks. But for professional or personal reasons, they prefer their privacy.

    I could have proved Villa was lying all along by simply identifying ASD Teacher. That would speak very poorly of me. I would never compromise the people who have identified themselves privately and asked me to respect their anonymity. Besides, I suspect most of you know that Villa and his wife are lying.

    Retired ASD Techer has contacted me. He did not go to the Villa residence. He did not put up $1,000 or ask the Villas to do so.

    But what he did do is pick up the phone and call Mrs. Dottie, aka Angie Villa. He identified himself, and asked the Villas to stop their fale claims that he is me.

    Now will the Villas apologize for their false claims?

    This blog is full of their false accusations, repeated several times every day. On this thread alone, the claim is made four times. I also deleted that claim several times, just on this entry.

    On TheIr own blog, Angie Villa was insisting that Retired ASD Teacher was me. She asked him to come over. "I will certainly recognize him and know him when he comes to collect O'Hare's $1000."

    Well, he was not going to come physically, not after Villa threatened to start as fight w/ Molovisnky. But he called and I'm told they had a nice chat.

    The Villas owe and apology to Retired ASD Teacher. They owe an apology to my readers, who have been forced to read their bullshit claims for the past several weeks. They owe their own readers an apology. They owe an apology to all the other commenters they falsely claim is me. Finally, they owe an apology to me.

    In my case, no apology is necessary. All they need do is send that $1,000 check to me. They already have my address, which they've posted often enough on their blog.

    It is clearly established that they are wrong. In my view,I believe they knew this all along, but were just trying to turn off my readers. Their plan has blown up in their faces. I ask that they stay off this blog. I ask that they allow us to discuss real issues with real people, as opposed to what they do with their imaginary Foo Foos.

    And because Villa has been peppering my blog with this false claim for weeks, I feel compelled to write a separate entry about it because most readers do not see these comments.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Retired ASD teacher here.

    Apology received, accepted, and appreciated.

    Now, look. .. . lots of intelligent and caring folks read and post here. It's a beautiful thing! I am glad to be able to participate.

    Carry on, Bernie!

    ReplyDelete
  57. "It is clearly established that they are wrong." -Bernie The Banker

    Well oopsie, can't be right all the time.

    But I am sure the Villas will be okay with being right 90% of the time.

    Stay tuned ...

    ReplyDelete
  58. What a pathetic little piece of shit you are. You've just been publicly proved wrong and lack the courage to just simply admit it. Your wife waxed on at length about how I must be Retired ASD Teacher. No correction. As we all now know, you are both full of shit. No apologies to anyone. You have no respect for anyone, least of all your own readers.

    No one can take a word you say seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  59. To get back on topic... does it really matter what happens to the Morning Call? The only "news" you actually get is the police blotter and the obits. I can go online and get all the news I need without the MC. Also, I can get comics at comics.com and all the sports news at espn. I could care less about high school sports. All the local news I need I get from the local weekly newspaper for about $25 per year.

    They ruined their product and raised the price. The Morning Call produced it's own demise.

    ReplyDelete
  60. "The Banker" is Bernie O'Hare.

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  61. Right.

    Villa, You and your wife were handed your heads today. If you both weren't so narcissistic, you would be apologizing to your readers, my readers and me. Instead you continue your lies after being proved to be dead wrong about something you have insisted for the past several weeks, almost every day.

    But then again, you know you were lying all along.

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  62. The "Tool" character is Bernie O'Hare.

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  63. "proved to be dead wrong"

    On one (can't win 'em all :)

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  64. Give it up, Villa. The only thing you're proving is you're actually more nutz than we already know.

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  65. Just read the "smoking gun" evidence over at Villa's "blog."

    Now I'm laughing. The smoking gun, that "proves" we're all the same person, is the shorthand for with. Yes, only Bernie O'Hare uses "w/" to shorthand "with." This is the only piece of evidence they use? And this is what they teased their reader(s) with for days? What a joke. I'm sure it did get them some more traffic, but it has ruined any chance they had for credibility.

    It's odd they would choose to drag someone thru the mud on their blog, RIGHT AFTER posting a very negative post about the joys of optimism and remaining positive.

    Personally, I know nothing I can say will change their mind or their tactics, and I'd like to see their comments number at ZERO permanently for their latest entry on O'Hare.

    In the mean time, I will be giggling all day long at this smoking gun. Geez, if EVERYONE using the w/ shorthand is Bernie, then is ONE BUSY guy. He must have been the one that sent me a random card the other day, not my cousin! Geez, and I thought that last e-mail was from my mom, but she said something with w/, so I guess that was Bernie, too. Wow. Shock and awe, folks.

    They ought to apply to the Allentown PD for a detective position or something. Seriously - it took them all weekend to come up with this???

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  66. I tried to post a note on the Villa's so called blog but I guess I need to be "approved" first. I am guessing they will not have to guts to post my note because obviously the truth is not relavent to these people.

    Their "smoking gun" evidence is the most pathetic piece of writing i have ever seen. As KathyD's husband I can assure you that Bernie did not give birth to our two children, does not share my bed, and does not go to Philadelphia with me to see horrible plays on Broad Street.

    I must say, this is all entertaining, though. Maybe I will convince Kathy to start her own blog so she can steal all your readership!!!

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  67. Mr. & Mrs. KathyD,

    I've been mor a few years, so I'm used to reading all kinds of crap about me. But I was thinking yesterday that people who want to reamin anonymous might tend to get very upset by the filth being spewed by Villa.

    Don't.

    It's all bullshit, especially from them. They lost all credibility before they started their claims about my supposed deceitful practice of pretending to be other people. But the way they handled that whole Retired ASD Teacher says so much more.

    After their conversation w/ Retired ASD Teacher, Villa owe an apology not just to him, but also to their readers, my readers and me. They waited until this morning to admit their error, which they acknowledge only as a comment on a post.

    They also admit they use pseudonyms, but only as parody. That is yet another Villa lie. He has been posting anonymously and pseudonymously for years. He has used numerous sock puppets like "Hogan," "McJudas" and many other names for years. He has done so in comments on this blog. He has bragged to me about his use of anonymity to attack the LVpolibloggers. He has used numerous psudonyms at The MC Reader Forum to spew hatred against DA Martin, and this is long before he was at war w/ me. He uses sock puppets like "Sarah" now just to promote his CDs.

    Perhaps their most outrageous use of pseudonyms was when they employed them for their "interview" with King Edwin, an uttterly deceptive tatic that diminshes the subject of their adoration.

    The simple truth is that Villa and his wife are pathetic liars.

    I just read the "smoking gun" evidence and am surprised to learn I am the only person in the world who uses "w/" as an appreviated way to write "with." The whole thing is laughable.

    Mrs. KathyD, should she choose to do so, would be an excellent blogger. She writes well. I should feel complimented at being compared to her or Banker or many of the anonymous commenters here.

    When I started this venture, I resolved NOT to blog anonymously. Using sock puppets is a deceptive practice. I have a little more respect for my readers than that. As the Villas have made clear, they respect no one.

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  68. At first I was going to ignore this. I really wish the Villa family would just go away. But I'll take just a few seconds to point out that "w/" a common abbreviation and is listed on the website www.abbreviations.com.

    Here's the direct link:
    http://www.abbreviations.com/W%2F

    When you go to that link, you'll see that it means "with," and the most popular use of this abbreviation is in "Internet/Chat." Now I'm not a junior detective like Billy Villa, but I think what we do here fits that description.

    Sorry Billy and Ang, but I'm not Bernie.

    The Banker

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  69. For most Catholics/Christians around the world, Lent will start somewhere around Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. And it will last for the next 40 days. For those, as myself of the Eastern Antiochene Rite of the Church called Maronite Catholics, our Lent started somewhere around Saturday night or this Sunday morning. And will last until the time when it was recorded that Mary Magdalene went to Jesus' tomb to prepare her Lord's body with spices for embalming. But to her surprise and the universe's joy, that tomb was empty.

    These next several weeks are a time very special to Christians and to those that keep Christ close to their hearts. This is the time to look within yourself. This is the time to offer yourself to a higher cause, even if you don't believe in the faith of the Lord. It is the time to perfect yourself, to work on something to make yourself better. Perfect yourself so you maybe capable to offer your services and assistance better to others and in a way that make you more pleasing, not only to yourself, but to that higher presence - The Lord.

    We should all walk away from this period of time not thinking about the suffering and sacrafice that we are making, but the fruit that will blossom because of it.

    God never gives you a test that you can't handle. It may seem tough, but it is can always be accomplished in his time. It will never adhere to our time-tables. But eventually, as you hone your gifts; you will become perfect as your father is perfect.

    May this season of Lent be a positive one for you as we wait for that glorious morning when Mary Mag. finds the empty tomb and proclaims that Jesus has defeated death.

    Peace be with you, ~~Alex

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  70. "But I'll take just a few seconds to point out that "w/" a common abbreviation and is listed on the website www.abbreviations.com."

    Does that mean Bernie O'Hare created that Web site?

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  71. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  72. Sorry for the delete...I was bragging that I was vindicated because I had not used "w/", but the Villa's found one where I did...oh well

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  73. Betty Cauler's an amazing photographer. Thanks for spreading the word about her blog.

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  74. My only regret was to see this thread deteriorate into Villaville.

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  75. She shoulda quit on Halloween, more fun that way, a cake, gummy chocolate batz, a gift card, and a giant knife to cut the pumpkin cake with, Also included, mysterious powder from Carribean to cast an evil spell over the entire newsroom. Roof leaks, mice scurry around, insects buzzing up and down ailes, can you say i didn't get my paper in Farsi?

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You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.