For Release in 2016.
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
COMING SOON....
Saturday, 13 September 2025
A Worker's Missing Parachute
SEARCHING FOR THE RIPCORD
By Atlas Reed
Invisible Labor: Service, Sacrifice, and Survival in America’s Workforce
From Military Contractors to Everyday Workers—The Cost of a Broken Safety Net
In early September 2025 I sold my car near a U.S. base in western
Germany. On its own, that’s an ordinary task. But for me, it marked
the final logistical hurdle in a high-stakes exit process triggered by
something far more disruptive: I was laid off in July, after more than
five years supporting U.S. military operations in Europe.
I worked at separate U.S. military command centers in Europe over the
past five years. In both roles, I supported critical military
operations—quietly, consistently, and professionally. And yet, when my
contract ended, I was given 60 days to uproot my life, or lose
employer-paid repatriation. I had 90 days to legally remain in
Germany.
There was no formal off-ramp. No transition plan. No safety net. Just
a deadline and the growing realization that I was now navigating
international bureaucracy completely alone, like many who work
overseas without family support
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Hidden in Plain Sight:
A Walk-Through Jewish Kaiserslautern
By Justin T. Carreño
While exploring the city I now call home, Kaiserslautern, I came across several Jewish heritage or cultural sites—none of them marked by large plaques or interpretive signs, but all clearly maintained with intention. The Jewish cemetery is identified only by a discreet sign behind a hedge. At first glance, I nearly missed it. But once noticed, its quiet presence is obvious.
While exploring the city I now call home, Kaiserslautern, I came across several Jewish heritage or cultural sites—none of them marked by large plaques or interpretive signs, but all clearly maintained with intention. The Jewish cemetery is identified only by a discreet sign behind a hedge. At first glance, I nearly missed it. But once noticed, its quiet presence is obvious.
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This approach—subtle, almost hidden—is not the result of neglect, however. It reflects a deliberate balance between visibility and caution. In a time when antisemitism continues to be a concern across Europe, a lower profile can offer a degree of safety without erasing the past.
In fact, disturbingly, in Kaiserslautern in May 2025, stolpersteine (stumbling blocks) were vandalized, being torn out of the ground and stolen. Stolpelsteine are small brass memorial plaques in sidewalks in front of the last freely chosen places of residence of victims of Nazism. They commemorate people who were persecuted, murdered, deported, expelled or driven to suicide during the Nazi era. Authorities still don't know who the vandals were, and don't know if the crime was driven by antisemitism or anti-Israeli sentiments.
In addition to Germany’s broader political climate—including resurgent far-right parties like AfD—shaping how openly Jewish history is preserved and presented, history and culture are also factors. The city had a smaller prewar Jewish population, and much of its historical infrastructure—including the synagogue—was destroyed during WWII. Unlike cities with large, continuous Jewish communities or strong heritage tourism, Kaiserslautern developed around military and industrial functions, shaping a quieter approach to remembrance. While nearby rural areas may lean conservative, the city itself maintains a respectful, if understated, memory culture—marked by preserved historical sites, memorials, and educational initiatives.
I noticed the same intentional quiet at Hilde-Mattauch-Platz, a small square named for Hilde Mattauch, a Jewish opera singer from Kaiserslautern. After building a promising career in Germany, she was forced to emigrate due to Nazi persecution. She lived in England, then Argentina, where she continued performing and touring. Despite the upheaval, she returned briefly to Kaiserslautern in the 1950s to give concerts. The square named in her honor reflects not only her artistic legacy but also a life marked by resilience and displacement.
The Jewish cultural center was probably the most understated. I only recognized it after passing by several times—its only visible sign being a small menorah in the window. There’s no nameplate, no external marker. But the meaning is clear once seen: it’s a functioning, lived-in space for community life, maintained with discretion for understandable reasons. (In fact, the police are regularly stationed outside of the building).
Another quiet discovery lies beneath the surface—literally. In 1995, during construction work in the city center, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a 14th-century mikveh, a ritual Jewish bath. Hidden for centuries, the site had been buried and forgotten, yet its stones were remarkably well-preserved. Today, it’s viewable through a small glass panel in the pavement—easy to miss unless you're looking for it. There’s a discreet plaque nearby, but no elaborate display. Still, the presence of the mikveh offers a glimpse into a once-vibrant medieval Jewish community in Kaiserslautern, long vanished but not erased. Like so many markers of Jewish life here, it’s a quiet thread in the city’s fabric—a reminder that Jewish history was, and still is, part of this place.
These discoveries demonstrate that remembrance here is not absent—it’s simply quiet, careful, and deliberate. The design of these spaces reflects a thoughtful response to historical memory and present-day realities. In Kaiserslautern, remembrance is integrated into the fabric of the city, not through grand gestures, but through quiet continuity.
This approach—subtle, almost hidden—is not the result of neglect, however. It reflects a deliberate balance between visibility and caution. In a time when antisemitism continues to be a concern across Europe, a lower profile can offer a degree of safety without erasing the past.
In fact, disturbingly, in Kaiserslautern in May 2025, stolpersteine (stumbling blocks) were vandalized, being torn out of the ground and stolen. Stolpelsteine are small brass memorial plaques in sidewalks in front of the last freely chosen places of residence of victims of Nazism. They commemorate people who were persecuted, murdered, deported, expelled or driven to suicide during the Nazi era. Authorities still don't know who the vandals were, and don't know if the crime was driven by antisemitism or anti-Israeli sentiments.
In addition to Germany’s broader political climate—including resurgent far-right parties like AfD—shaping how openly Jewish history is preserved and presented, history and culture are also factors. The city had a smaller prewar Jewish population, and much of its historical infrastructure—including the synagogue—was destroyed during WWII. Unlike cities with large, continuous Jewish communities or strong heritage tourism, Kaiserslautern developed around military and industrial functions, shaping a quieter approach to remembrance. While nearby rural areas may lean conservative, the city itself maintains a respectful, if understated, memory culture—marked by preserved historical sites, memorials, and educational initiatives.
I noticed the same intentional quiet at Hilde-Mattauch-Platz, a small square named for Hilde Mattauch, a Jewish opera singer from Kaiserslautern. After building a promising career in Germany, she was forced to emigrate due to Nazi persecution. She lived in England, then Argentina, where she continued performing and touring. Despite the upheaval, she returned briefly to Kaiserslautern in the 1950s to give concerts. The square named in her honor reflects not only her artistic legacy but also a life marked by resilience and displacement.
Another quiet discovery lies beneath the surface—literally. In 1995, during construction work in the city center, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a 14th-century mikveh, a ritual Jewish bath. Hidden for centuries, the site had been buried and forgotten, yet its stones were remarkably well-preserved. Today, it’s viewable through a small glass panel in the pavement—easy to miss unless you're looking for it. There’s a discreet plaque nearby, but no elaborate display. Still, the presence of the mikveh offers a glimpse into a once-vibrant medieval Jewish community in Kaiserslautern, long vanished but not erased. Like so many markers of Jewish life here, it’s a quiet thread in the city’s fabric—a reminder that Jewish history was, and still is, part of this place.
These discoveries demonstrate that remembrance here is not absent—it’s simply quiet, careful, and deliberate. The design of these spaces reflects a thoughtful response to historical memory and present-day realities. In Kaiserslautern, remembrance is integrated into the fabric of the city, not through grand gestures, but through quiet continuity.
The PJ depends on reader support. Please help us by contributing financially to Philabooks@yahoo.com via PayPal, or by contributing editorial content via WritersClearinghouse.yahoo.com.| Established 1976 Richard Carreño, Editor © MMXXV WritersClearinghouse All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, 19 June 2025
The Bookshelf: Now on Offer from Philabooks|Booksellers
The PJ depends on reader support. Please help us by contributing financially to Philabooks@yahoo.com via PayPal, or by contributing editorial content via WritersClearinghouse.yahoo.com.| Established 1976 Richard Carreño, Editor © MMXXV WritersClearinghouse All Rights Reserved.
SEEING DOUBLE
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AVAILABLE FROM PHILABOOKS|PRESS
INQUIRE AT PHILABOOKS@YAHOO.COM
NO KINGS — Dictators, Strongmen, Bullies
By Alaina Johns
Broad Street Review
Continuing an unfortunate pattern, some major media outlets quickly downplayed the scope of June 14’s nationwide No Kings protests, mounted in opposition to unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration. I saw a Washington Post headline claiming that “thousands” participated, while preliminary counts from credible sources estimate that at least five million (and perhaps as many as 12 million) people joined more than 2,000 protests across all 50 states. Many BSR writers were among them, in person or in spirit. Here are the protests in their own words.
Why did we march?
“I went because I wanted to be counted among the millions of people who yearn for truth, justice, compassion, and democracy,” says Anndee Hochman, who joined a crowd in her Mt. Airy neighborhood.
“I marched because I always try to, but also because it seems that Americans STILL believe ‘it can’t happen here.’ Well, it is happening right now,” another writer says. “Trump has stolen my America,” Richard Carreño adds. “The one I wanted to pass down to my grandchildren and now, alas, they will never know.”
Another writer notes that videos of “beautiful, organically occurring dancing” in other cities’ recent protests convinced them to turn out: “as a dancer, I was inspired to bring my dancing body to the protest.” Cassandra Lewis Slattery, who attended a rally in Bryant Park, found meaning in protesting near the New York Public Library, which reminded her that “access to information and history … are essential for a democracy to survive.”
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
EXTREE! EXTREE! ON NEWSSTANDS NOW!
The PJ depends on reader support. Please help us by contributing financially to Philabooks@yahoo.com via PayPal, or by contributing editorial content via WritersClearinghouse.yahoo.com.| Established 1976 Richard Carreño, Editor © MMXXV WritersClearinghouse All Rights Reserved.
GALLERY: NEW EDITIONS FROM PHILABOOKS|PRESS
Monday, 26 May 2025
NEW EDITION NEW COVER
The PJ depends on reader support. Please help us by contributing financially to Philabooks@yahoo.com via PayPal, or by contributing editorial content via WritersClearinghouse.yahoo.com.| Established 1976 Richard Carreño, Editor © MMXXV WritersClearinghouse All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, 22 May 2025
The PJ Hires New PR Flack: Mr. Chat
His First Effort: I'll Take It!
This is what ChatGPT had to say about you:
Richard Carreño is a Philadelphia-based writer, cultural critic, and former journalist
with a diverse background in academia and publishing. He has contributed to
publications like the Broad Street Review and is the editor of the cultural blog
Junto.blogspot.com. Carreño has also taught American literature and English
composition at several universities.
As an author, Carreño has written several books, including Lord of Hosts: The
Life of Sir Henry ‘Chips’ Channon, Museum Mile: Philadelphia’s Parkway
Museums, and John H. McFadden and His Age: Cotton and Culture in
Philadelphia. His works often explore art, history, and cultural figures,
with a focus on Philadelphia’s rich heritage.
Carreño’s writing is known for its insightful analysis and engaging style,
making significant contributions to the understanding of cultural history and art.
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
'NECKAR' OF THE GODS
Hiking Through the Neckar Valley,
Borders Are Left at the Trailhead
By Justin T. Carreño
Justin T. Carreño is a writer who lives in Germany.
The morning mist clung stubbornly to the hills of the Neckar Valley—
the kind of damp, quiet fog that makes everything feel softer, slower.
It was April, and spring was just beginning to stretch out its limbs in
southern Germany. From the medieval village of Hirschhorn, with its
quiet castle perched above the river, our hiking group set out for a
day of fitness, fresh air, and, as it turned out, fellowship—boots
hitting dirt with that shared rhythm only a long trail can create.
We were a colorful mix: Germans, of course, but also people from
further afield. Chu Li, a cheerful Chinese business consultant;
Vladimir, the group leader, a rugged Russian IT manager with a
dry wit; Natalia, a Ukrainian whose smile never quite left her face,
even on the steep inclines. There was Hossam from Egypt, who
carried dates in his pack and offered them freely. Lien, a Vietnamese
pharmacy student with a camera always half-raised. A quiet,
thoughtful man named Sami, who had left Syria to pursue medical
school in Heidelberg, still carried his past in his eyes. And there
were two Indian men, unrelated by blood but quick to bond over
a shared culture and distant home.
Then there was the Jamaican hiker. His story of moving to
Germany for a fresh start caught me off guard. I asked why he
chose Germany over the U.S., which is often a more common
destination for Jamaicans. He shrugged and said the U.S. didn’t feel
like a good place anymore. “Germany is safer,” he added, “and the
work-life balance, the worker protections—they’re better.” He
hadn’t realized I was American until he asked, “Where are you from?”
“The States,” I said.
ARMOUR GUARD
MONUMENTAL HIGGINS ARMOUR COLLECTION, LONG IN MOTHBALLS, TO OPEN IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
This fall, the Worcester Art Museum welcomes you to its new Arms and Armour Galleries. Uncover the real stories behind myths and legends, brought to life through over 1,000 objects from around the world. Showcasing the Museum’s collection of arms and armor—the second largest of its kind in the United States—this new 5,000-square-foot space invites you to delve into timeless themes of bravery, power, identity, and honor, and reflect on how these concepts resonate in our lives today.
Rare artifacts, breathtaking artworks, and hands-on interactives make this experience perfect for all ages. With a focus on storytelling, the galleries will explore the societies and cultures in which these objects were used and reveal the skill and ingenuity required to create them. Discover the celebrity culture of Roman gladiators through a 2,000-year-old helmet. Marvel at ornate weapons-turned-fashion statements, like an Indian dagger worn to signify status and masculinity. Search the surfaces of brilliantly crafted suits of armor for clues about their makers. And come face-to-face with samurai Sakai Genzo through the ceremonial suit of armor he once wore.
The core of the Museum’s collection of arms and armor is the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection. Previously housed at Worcester’s Higgins Armoury Museum until its closure, the collection was acquired by WAM in 2014. Now, this reimagined new installation will allow for the majority of these beloved treasures to be on display, using art to boldly redefine how we encounter them. The galleries are curated by Jeffrey L. Forgeng, WAM’s Higgins Curator of Arms & Armor and Medieval Art—who has curated the Higgins Armory Collection since 1999—to highlight the craftsmanship, technological innovation, and cultural significance of arms and armor throughout history.
The Worcester Art Museum is profoundly grateful to the funders, donors, consultants, and the many others who have supported this project. View the full list.
How to visit
All visitors
- Timed-entry reservations will be required for all visitors to the Arms and Armor Galleries.
- Reservations will be available online starting October 22 at noon ET. Subsequently, timeslots will be released every Wednesday at noon ET.
- Making a reservation online in advance is the only way to guarantee your entry into the Arms and Armor Galleries. There may be a very limited number of walk-up tickets available each day on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Reservations for the Arms and Armor Galleries include general admission to the entire Museum. While you must be ready to enter the Arms and Armor Galleries at the time on your ticket, you may enter the Museum at any time during regular hours to enjoy four floors of art.
Friday, 18 April 2025
BOOK REVIEW: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S INVENTIVE MIND
Monday, 24 March 2025
OUT OF THE BLUE
A Night of High Ranks
and Unity in Rural Germany
By JUSTIN T. CARREÑO
It was early March 2025, and a cool, crisp, clear, late winter evening in the rural hills
of southwest Germany. I was on a brick patio with a firepit ablaze, and the
smell of grilled meat and smoke filled the air. The setting, high on the ridge, was
a modern, stately home overlooking the nearby town of Landstuhl and, notably,
as well, the municipality's adjacent neighbor, the Goliath-like, U.S. installation,
Ramstein Air Base (RAB), whose presence breathed life into the small village.
(Landstuhl gained notoriety for its American military hospital where injured
troops were evacuated during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.)
A friend, a military linguist, invited me to a barbecue with people from work. I asked
who was hosting, and she wasn’t sure – just a colleague of hers was going, and it was
an open invite to others they knew, and people connected to his office. I didn’t think
much of it – I’m always up for a get-together and meeting new people, so I agreed. I
took the train, about 10 minutes from Kaiserslautern to Landstuhl, and she picked
me up from the town bahnhof, and we drove about another 10 minutes to the event.
I knew something was different about this barbecue because as we approached the
home, it wasn’t a typical apartment or standard home of people she’d work with. It
was a large, impressive, modern, landscaped, home with an incredible panoramic
view spanning 180 degrees, looking out over the greater Landstuhl area, Ramstein,
and the Pfalzerwald.
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
ROMANIAN RHAPSODY continued... Part III: The Princess Ileana and Union Station Pittsburgh
 |
By Thom Nickels
I’m on Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian traveling from Philadelphia
to Pittsburgh to check out the legacy of the last Romanian
Princess. Arranging this trip was almost as difficult as planning
a trip to Romania. Figuring out how to get to Ellwood City,
Pennsylvania from Pittsburgh was a challenge. Ellwood
City is where Princess Ileana of Romania — in her later
incarnation as Mother Alexandra -- founded the Orthodox
Monastery of the Transfiguration.
The western Pennsylvania landscape is quite spectacular.
When the train rounded the famous Horseshoe Curve the
engineer jumped on the intercom to explain the history
of the Curve to passengers. The story involved a lot of
WWII data as well as how many people died during
its construction. In the café car I sit near several Amish
people, an Amtrak engineer, a conductor and a man
with an old Bible set beside his coffee. This
small group is engaged in conversation. I jump in
at an appropriate time and offer my two cents. The
topic is Scripture. The man with the Bible is telling
stories about how American evangelical Christians
when they see him reading the Bible openly in
Europe always make a loud show of meeting
another believer. “Oh brother in Christ! Another
brother in Christ! Let me join you, brother! Can we
pray together?”
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