06 April 2007

To Paraphrase The Beatles....

"All We Are Saying...Is Give Fries A Chance".

That could be the new "catchsong" for the Metro Squad as last night representatives of the neighborhood associations met with local law enforcement representatives to hear about how reactivating the Metro Squad is a GOOD thing for everyone in their communities. Last night the topic was...what else? Crime.

And of course, most of the controversy surrounding reactivating "Metro" is this misconception of what the squad would entail. The Squad is targeting illegal guns and wants to get them OFF the streets...and rightly so. We're seeing TOO many crimes committed with guns. This is not to say that stricter gun laws are needed...that won't help worth a damn. What WILL help is getting illegal guns out of the WRONG hands, period. Retired ACPD officer Albert Reese stated that: "It's good for the community. It's going to help the community. Give Sheriff Fries the chance to prove himself".
It's like I say...'ya never know if 'ya never try.

This whole "Community-Oriented Policing" is a relatively new thing to me, as Philly never had anything like this, probably because people were already working with the PD there to keep crime at bay. But this methodology is not without it's own problem; It's dependant upon the COMMUNITY interacting WITH the law enforcement agencies to keep the areas safe. And let's face it, when people stop giving a damn, where is the "community" in that community-oriented policing? It becomes more like "Problem-Oriented Policing", which is an entirely different animal. I feel the police here have done an exemplary job in doing all in their power to get the community to work WITH them...it's the community that (in many cases) failed to carry the ball and run with it. In fact, in some areas, the community has either dropped the ball or handed it over to the opposition without so much as a whimper.

FWPD PIO Mike Joyner was also in attendance, speaking about how the citizens can help prevent crime. "The police department is only ONE piece of the puzzle", he said. And one way the community make a difference is to work WITH the police to prevent crime. We call that picking up the damn phone and reporting suspicious activity when it occurs.

Now I'm so much a staunch advocate of those words, it's not even funny. I take down information regarding activities that are the least bit "hinky", and have NO problem with passing it along to the FWPD or the ACSD. I can show you gigabytes of pictures regarding drug deals, speeders, boomcars, and so on. And I can show you lists of vehicle descriptions complete with tag numbers for people of "dubious" persuasion. And the police receive these on a monthly basis from me....this lone wolf, operating without the help from my neighborhood association (Pettit-Rudisill), as they don't seem to want to aid in any venture of this nature. In fact, when I contacted them years ago, their response was an off-handed: "What would you like us to do"? And after my disbelief in that statement ebbed, I thought "I just told you what the problems were (in detail), and YOU can't seem to advise me on how to proceed, set up a meet with law enforcement, or even give me a phone number to call"? OK...I know where YOU stand. To this day, I have never been contacted by anyone from the N.A., and that's fine by me. I'm not doing too bad for ONE person (which is about equal to one TENTH of the attendees at one of their meetings) in a neigborhood of about several HUNDRED people.

There are some that think I should have created my OWN neighborhood association, but that just wouldn't fly. There are too FEW people around here anymore that give a damn to make it feasible, and too mant rentals with too many of the WRONG people (read trash) living in them. Then someone suggested I become a "block captain", and I turned that down, because I have a large enough "target" on MY back already.

Yeah, I've been threatened a few times (and laughed at them about it, which pisses them off even more). We've had a brick come through a window (by someone on a bicycle), had the house hit with paintballs, had a few garage windows pock-marked with BBs, but nothing (yet) that requires my "personal" style of urban intervention (I call it 12 gauge whoop-ass).

My take on this is that when you have an area that becomes lawless, you come down hard, fast, and continuously ON that area, sending a message to the criminal element. You do what it takes within the boundaries of the law to make it safer and more secure or everyone who IS lawful. THAT is how things get done. Having your head in the sand, doing nothing serves the wrong people. Any venture such as this that goes against the criminal status quo is not without risk. You can "cut and run" and move (like I've seen quite a few neighbors do), leaving others to try and fight the fight, or you can make your stand, work with law enforcement, and take back (or hold onto) what you busted your ass for, namely YOUR home, YOUR right to a quality of life, and YOUR neighborhood.

If people do nothing about crime here, and now, it will eventually wind up in other neighborhoods...that's just the nature of the beast.

And whether we cage the beast, or let it roam free is up to every one of us.

We choose whether Maxwell wields his "silver hammer"...or not.

05 April 2007

More Power To 'Ya....

I saw a commercial on TV for some new Lexus the other night, and they touted that it has 438 HORSEPOWER under the hood. Now that got me thinking.....WTF do I need with all that horsepower anyway? Am I planning to enter some 24 hour endurance race? Am I thinking of signing up for the next Cannonball Run? So why, EXACTLY would I "need" all that power at my disposal?

Granted, all that HP is going to empty your hip-national-bank REAL fast....most ANY car will these days (by the sticker price alone), but I'm noticing a nasty trend; automakers must want a LOT of us to die in car collisions. Let's face it...when that much power is at the disposal of a person that doesn't know how to handle it, let alone practice good driving skills, the recipe can only be one of disaster. And we are seeing more accidents involving people with vehicles having a horsepower rating exceeding 200 BHP. I suppose one "could" say that it's one way to control population growth.

Cars today weigh less than their counterparts of decades past, and the total power-to-weight ratio is what's causing a lot of the problems. Now that's NOT to say that a HEAVIER car is warranted, because we ALL know that fuel economy would go in the crapper real quick. We NEED vehicles that get RESPECTABLE mileage. So we make them lighter. But just as these vehicles become lighter, the automakers should not be trying to add more power to them. I don't really NEED to go from 0-60 MPH in four, or even six seconds....not when I only have to stop at the NEXT light and do it all over again. My little 2.8 liter normally-aspirated (carburated) Firebird does the 0-60 gig in TEN seconds (and I've been OK with that for the past TWENTY-FOUR years), my wife's Caprice does it in about EIGHT, with a 4.3 liter fuel-injected powerplant, and I'm even OK with that. I might not ever win any race "off the line", but I'm still getting to that next stoplight right along with the the guy who "jack-rabbited" his way from 0-60 in 4 seconds in that new Lexus...only I'm burning a lot less fuel in the process.

The worst aspect to all this horspower is the fact that all this raw power comes with the same price as a heavy car does; fuel economy. Doesn't matter how light the car is, it's the power that will drop that fuel gauge JUST as fast. I've never met anyone who had a huge engine that dumped several hundred horses onto the highway that couldn't pass everything...BUT a gas station! Now if you could produce an engine that gets 50 MPG AND is rated at 350 BHP...now THAT would be something to ooh and ahh about. But I'm just not seeing that happen. It all still comes back to my first question: What do *I* need all that horsepower for?

My father used to say that "When you're in traffic, you can only go AS FAST as the guy in front of you". And that's just so damn true. Four hundred horsepower won't make the guy in front move ANY faster now, will it? And all 400 of those horses just will NEVER outrun a police radio, will they?

Time was, when you wanted to go faster, YOU WORKED on the car to get it where you wanted it to be in the realm of performance and speed, and you KNEW it would cost at the parts store as well as at the gas pumps. Now the automakers have taken that part of the equation out (for us). They think you NEED all that power, when in fact it's another ploy. They could make smaller engines, more efficient with better mileage than some 400+ horsepower behemoth under your hood, but why bother? That wouldn't sell cars, because people today are too lazy to WORK on their machines to set them up with more power. They love to be "spoon-fed", as it were. That's why we see so many "high-performance" shops today. It's all for the lazy guy and not for the gearheads in the group. Then again, why even bother to pay someone to swap out the E-PROM in your car's computer for the sake of a few more horses when you could do THAT yourself?
And honestly, not everyone is cut out to wield that kind of power (with the obvious responsibility it entails), although some falsely believe thay can (and do with the predictable results).
We don't need as many mechanics as we need computer geeks under the hood these days, thanks to the automakers. Of course any decent EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) would turn all our new computer-controlled cars to fancy lawn furniture real fast...four-hundred horses...with no "giddy-yap". Imagine that.

As for me...if I ever WANT 400+ horsepower, I'll stop DRIVING...and start FLYING!

04 April 2007

When Good Furnaces Go Bad...

Well, in this case, not exactly "bad"...but trying to get there soon enough. I like to lavish praise as much as I like lavishing scorn whenever and wherever it's required, and this is one of those times where negativity and disdain are going to be riding in the backseat for a change (not an EASY task in Fort Wayne).

Today marked the first time in TEN years that we had our furnace serviced. And since my wife's parents have been on us like white on rice to get it serviced, we caved and determined now was as good a time as any. First of all Poorman's HVAC service was prompt, exemplary, and the technician first rate.
Now...on to the "beast in the basement..."

Our furnace is one of those studies in contrast.... "The Beast" was built around 1969, the house a couple decades prior, and the A/C unit was added on the early 1970s. So let's say that our furnace should qualify for SOME type of federal funding due to it's "historical" nature. This bad boy could be loaned to the Smithsonian for their "History of HVAC" exhibit...lol!
It's big, sort of loud (but it's quieter now), and ALL STEEL (think built like a Bradley Fighting Vehicle), but is still getting the job done that it was designed for after ALL these years....then again what could you expect from a company (Williamson) that basically built themselves out of business? So much for old-school technology, eh? Build things to LAST and build them in AMERICA, unlike today's "can't fix this foreign POS, so just toss it and get a new one" rhetoric. Even the tech said that getting close to FORTY YEARS out of this furnace was remarkable!

We had the motor lubed up (30 weight oil is better than 3-in-1), and the V-belt changed on the motor pulley (you wouldn't want what came off on ANY car at ANY time...trust me). The furnace IS showing it's age (aren't we all?), and is a lot less efficient than modern ones...that's a given, so we've decided to "get creative" and offset the cost of using those compact fluorescent bulbs in the house by wasting energy through the flue of the furnace.....it all balances out at the bottom of the page anyway. Besides, it's nice to take that income tax check and "redistribute the wealth", as it were. All I can say is that we're doing OUR PART for the local economy...so there...!

Still, after all was said and done, it did cost a little over $300 (way, WAY less than a new unit), and will be around for a few more years (as we hopefully will be as well). The tech even got the humidifier to work again (it was blocked more than a presidential bill for troop spending in Iraq), so I won't be playing "shock the monkey" with the cats (or the wife) anytime soon.
Will we get a new unit? If this one gives up the ghost, definitely. But if we're moving away from the ghetto here (a distinct possibility, should the right property become available), let it stay...it still works.

But there's still that matter about the A/C condenser unit needing a good clean...

That's another story for another time.

03 April 2007

Getting Tough(er) On Crime...


With the SEVENTH homicide this year firmly in the books, leaders of the black community and representatives of law-enforcement met yesterday evening at the NAACP office here in Fort Wayne to discuss methods and ideas aimed at halting the violence that is permeating their community.
All I can say is: Good Luck!
There are so many obstacles looming before law-enforcement, it's just not funny.

First, there is the "pre-conceived" stigma surrounding law enforcement that "they" (John Law) are out to get "them" (the black community). Drive around any predominantly black area in the city (if you dare), and you'll see what I mean. Every vehicle that drives up OR down any street is very closely scrutinized. The people doing this rubber-necking are either wondering if it's the "po-po comin' down on me again", or maybe it's that drive-by shooter they've been trying to avoid (like the plague). I see this every day, and I have to admit that I'm finding myself doing it from time to time, having been threatened by several (no doubt) outstanding members of the black community (only thing outstanding about them are those several WARRANTS). In MY case, I just want to be able to "return fire" should the need arise. My dad always said that "If you look guilty and act guilty...you must sure as hell BE guilty". There is simply NO WAY you can feel secure and safe when looking over your shoulder every few seconds, right? That's why decent black people MOVE from those areas (as well as damn near everyone else with a shred of civility).

Next, there is this "honor among thieves" thing going on with the black community, whereby someone gets shot, and although a few dozen people were standing right nearby, not one damn person saw OR heard anything, and can't give ANY description, BUT they can get on their cellphones immediately and tell ALL their friends about it.....WTF is up with that?

Then we have the intimidation factor which reflects upon the previous paragraph and is the main reason many people will say or do nothing when something bad goes down. They would rather let this minority of their population dictate to the majority the status quo. Funny, but I've never encountered ANY black person that had THAT much fear...usually it the ones with too much attitude that I happen to see (and hear). If some young black male sees me outside, that car stereo goes up a tad louder, just because HE wants to intimidate ME (or anyone else wanting some level of normalcy in the area). I'd wager it's also the reason that resident on Rudisill has dug bullets out of her patio furniture. They must want her out of the area too.

There is also this lack of real black leaders...the ones that make the tough decisions, stand by them, and make things better for everyone, regardless of color in their area, even if they wind up pissing off a few of their OWN community in the process. Maybe all that's about to change, but I'm NOT betting the farm on it just yet, not with the past track record demonstrated, as well as the feelings held towards the police. Be nice to see a black leader emerge like Joe Clark, the former principal. I could deal with some guy with a bullhorn making young people "toe the mark", as it were. And that goes double for these "so-called" parents! Any REAL parent would be concerned when they find out the life expectancy of a young black male (less than 35 years old in an inner city environment) is drastically LOWER than counterparts of every other race in any other part of the city. Maybe that's they have so many kids (they can't really afford)...safety in NUMBERS?

Then there is this easy access to weapons. And I don't believe for one damn minute they are going to H&H and BUYING them, so don't go legislating the hell out of LEGAL gun sales or LEGAL ownership of guns. last night's meeting talked about a "gun amnesty"...yeah, that'll get all those nasty NON-FUNCTIONAL and TOY guns off the street real fast, won't it. Australia recently proved that this doesn't work, as have cities across America. Sure it looks good for the first week...and then it goes back to the same old routine with nothing getting accomplished. Most illegal guns are procurred through theft, with many crossing several states before they arrive in those hot little hands in Indiana. I had a contact in Philly that could get me a Tec-9 with "no questions asked" for ONLY $200...talk about a deal, eh?

Young black males make up the majority of people with nothing to do all damn day (around here)...that's a FACT. They drive around (must be nice to have all that GAS money), doing whatever it is they "do", with little regard for others. They go from one friend's house to another friend's house...all day...and mostly all night (they usually get some sleep between 4AM and 11AM), and then it's back out again for another "fun-filled" day of mayhem. And the black community has been OK with that over the decades? Why aren't all these young bucks doing something PRO-ductive, like learning some trade (other then drug dealing) and volunteering to spruce up THEIR neighborhoods? Help some elderly people (for free) with painting a house, cutting some lawns, shoveling snow, or even grocery shopping. Make a real difference for a change, instead of making the wanted list. I can't begin to imagine the degree of POSITIVE change something like THAT would do for these blighted areas of the south side, but it would be great to behold. It's called a sense of PRIDE...in onseself, one's family, and one's neighborhood.

I would strongly agree with those that believe that many young blacks need some sort of direction for their lives. Hell, that applies to youth of most ALL races these days. When these young people have nothing to do but nothing for the rest of their lives, they tend to be a bit antsy, and will look to other devices to feed their needs. Can more youth programs help? Sure, but only IF these kids get into them. It's like the "showing up for school in order to pass" thing.

One aspect to this "meeting of the minds" that I find disturbing, is that no paper has covered it (yet), but I suppose that will change within the next 48 hours.

Is this violence a serious problem? Yes.
Is it a drug problem? Yes.
Is it a gang problem? Yes.

And we have the media and the marketing gurus to thank for most of it. Embracing the wrong values, touting the wrong "fads", and falsely imbuing black youth with this misplaced sense of invincibility and false power that often times leads to violence might sell a ton of gangsta CDs, or saggy jeans, or athletic shoes, but it's not helping anyone to remain free from slavery one damn bit. It's just replacing one set of chains with another. And those ensnarled in these chains are too busy killing one another, while those holding the chains are laughing all the way to the bank.

I'm not laughing at all.



02 April 2007

But It's ONLY Human Nature...


I admire those that choose a career in studying humanity with all it's intricacies and nuances...I really do. After all, what line of endeavor can one find oneself getting PAID to wind up laughing at most of mankind's foibles? Granted there are those times when humanity shows it's darker side. The depths of depravity seems to know no limit, especially in times such as we find ourselves in today. Ancient Rome apparently had little if nothing on us, right? They just dealt with it a lot better (and harsher) vis-a-vis a nice "front row seat" at this weekend's games at the Colosseum (bring your friends).
But there still must be those times when these anthropologists (with all those fancy degrees) do get a bit of a giggle. They would if they ever came down to MY part of Fort Wayne.

For example, where else but in our little corner of the mammalian world will you find a person literally make THREE LEFT TURNS just to make ONE RIGHT turn?
But wait, it gets better.
Now be honest, what else states so emphatically that we, as a species are evolving than that 55 gallon drum that's been converted into a makeshift grill...placed right out FRONT of a house (replete with those overly-available cheap-ass $2 resin chairs) next to that 24 pack of empty Bud Lights, hmm? Hey, nothing says "higher property values" more than that, right? And around here, if you want more people walking down the exact middle of the street, by all means, spend some CEDIT money and place MORE SIDEWALKS along those streets. It's like every damn southside street is a frigging carnival midway...all we need are some funnel cake and elephant ear kiosks! Who can deny that robbing a convienience store for lottery tickets, and THEN going back an hour later to "cash in" the winners is anything less than humanity moving UP the food chain? And how about when you feel the need to relieve yourself. Well, you're no farther from the nearest Porta-Potty than some guys garage...or tree...or car. Just unzip, and let 'er rip.

One thing I have to admit is that watching my particular area on a fairly regular basis is much akin to seeing the old Barnum and Bailey Circus come to town...every f$cking day. I mean where ELSE can I see a "freak show" that comes to MY block DAILY, parading past in all it's splendor. OK...so we don't have the "dog-faced boy", the fire-eater, Zippy the Pin-Head, or even a damn bearded lady (although some women DO have damn fine moustaches), but we DO have our share of neighborhood oddities. And I would remiss to not say that MANY people around here walk a tightrope every time they walk the streets (it's called evading the law). The Great Wallenda would love to hear that.

We have a conglomeration of the stylishly-challenged...those mooks that have about a much fashion-sense as that slug I poured salt on the other night. I mean...a lime green SUIT???? Wonder if he got a BANJO with that? Whether it's those sagging pants, sideways-worn ballcaps, bandanas, hoodies (and the hoods wearing them), bare (pregnant) midriffs, and dangling hoop earrings SO large Bart Connor could perform a gold-medal winning routine on them....we have it ALL. And there is never an admission charge! Come one, come all.

We also have those who are challenged in other ways. We have people who don't know that vehicles DO require service from time to time, and will invariably breakdown at or near MY house (must be a convergent nexus of electromagnetic anomalies...or an Indian burial ground). And there's nothing funnier to see several people ALL standing around, scratching their heads while on their cellhpones wondering WHY the damn car won't "work". Reminds me of a Philly construction crew...ONE guy filling the pothole with SEVEN other guys "supervising" (when not doing a coffee run)! Then there are those people that think that their lawns will cut themselves. Well, if you owned some SHEEP, that would be somewhat true. Or if the city came by after citing you and cut the lawn FOR you and billed you for it...that could be considered a form of "self-maintenance"...(just not a COST-EFFECTIVE form).

And we also have people who have empassionately embraced this "communal living" thing. In other words...THEIR house is theirs...and so is YOURS. On any given day (because none of these "circus performers" really attend anything approaching a real job), THEIR kids will be running all over YOUR property. Or better still, all THEIR friends will be coming over to THEIR house (think 2 bedroom bungalow) to use YOUR property for a dump site or a playground for their kids ('cause it's bigger than their place). It's the whole "Dat guy got a nice crib...so let's f$ck widdit to make it look mo like OURS" thing. Well, sorry to tell you people...that dog just ain't gonna hunt. You have YOUR hovel...and I have MY Cape Cod...and never the twain shall meet. Homey the Clown ain't got nothin' on these folks (although having HIM in the area would be a step UP).

Yessir...a FREAK SHOW...every day...for (almost) FREE...It DOES, however cost you in other ways, trust me! Where else but in Fort Wayne?

I know that somewhere though...Robert L. Ripley is smiling...
Believe it...or not.