Weekend Roundup...
Another weekend awaits us (didn't think it'd GET here, didja?), and I've got a few burrs under my saddle this morning (tell us something we DON'T KNOW, Bob).
Allllllrighty then...
Our Journal Gazette (morning paper - accent on the MORNING aspect to this) has been arriving later than usual. It USED to get here by 0600hrs sharp (you could set your alarm by the paper guy), but of late, it has been GETTING late(r). Today's paper arrived at 0735 hrs.
Now I don't know what the problem is (obviously NOT the press room, or we would have heard something about that), but if the carrier has personal problems, then, by all means, give the route to someone that still does take paper delivery seriously.
With that said, let's move on to the USPS.
These people keep jacking UP the price of stamps (and mailing costs) and service remains STATIC (at best).
Seems they went and LOST one of my online purchases for Christmas. Now I've done over 600 purchases on eBay alone (over the last 8 years), and NEVER had to get "insurance", except in a few cases from items arriving from overseas (makes sense).
So, "all of a sudden" the USPS carrier has taken some "IDIOT PILLS" and forgotten WHERE the hell I live. Labels are most always pre-printed from eBay with tracking numbers on them, but apparently, SOME carriers can't READ all that well, or are TOO busy listening to their iPod glued in their ears to pay the hell attention to which ADDRESS they pulled up at.
The USPS tracking "says" the item was delivered to Fort Wayne back on 1 December at 1134 hours (damn precise), but the really funny thing is that I wait for the mail delivery, and I go out as soon as it arrives....this item DIDN'T SHOW UP AT ALL. It's M.I.A.
I certainly don't plan to peek in everyone else's mailbox* to see if MY stuff is in there (and I shouldn't HAVE to), but someone screwed up royally, and I'm out about $12. Still, it's $12 that SHOULD have gone to a Christmas gift I am to RECEIVE, and NOT to either the lost letter bin or another person's house.
And given the nature of the "people" around here, you can bet it will NEVER get returned. Hell, you can find mailboxes REGULARLY opened by passersby for no reason other than another idiot's primate curiosity.
Then again...my package COULD arrive today, and all this angst would be for naught.
NAH...not a chance...not down in THIS part of town.
*((editor's note: Well spank me rosy - the package was in the NEIGHBOR'S mailbox for the last 2 days. After talking with the carrier, she apologized for placing it in the wrong box, and added that a LOT of thefts are happening along her route this year...again, it's the PEOPLE doing it, NOT the economy. Problem solved, and my "gut instnct" served me well...the FORCE was with me once again...lol))
With that out of my system, let's move onto what ELSE is going on around here.
-- Seems the local "Three Tenors" of crime (The recently arrested trio of Britt, Britt and Grady - who obviously sing a nice tune) ARE in fact part of a robbery ring in this city (imagine that).
Police are looking for TWO other men who rotated in and out of the group.
One of the men is described as being between 6'6" to 7' tall!
Damn, that boy should be EASY to find (unless you fold him a few times).
Sgt. Carl Moore (FWPD Robbery/Homicide Div) declined to name the businesses he believes were robbed by the group, but did admit that some of the robberies had some "differences", but typically, the group cased the targets before robbing them (at least that shows some planning). The group used between 2-4 men with two being armed, one with a pistol, the other with the AK. And they usually had a getaway car waiting for them (so much for the K-9 tracking them).
Detectives knew relatively little about the suspects before they arrested Brandon and William Britt, and Julian Grady, Moore said.
(Bet there are even MORE people tied into this...better check the GANG affiliations with Indy, Chitown, and even Detroit.)
And that smacks of what I have stated right HERE...
If you want to become relatively invisible and fly under the radar for a long while...by ALL means, move the hell DOWN here!
There are plenty of cheap-ass rental places to crib at, overgrown foliage obscuring properties and "cut-throughs" (places to dodge the law), few (if any) people that will even bother to "dime" on you (except ME, that is...I LOOK for people just like that), and you have a ready-made market for illegal drugs, robbery/burglary, rape, car theft, and other illicit activities, so there's LOTS to "hone your skills" on down here, yessir!
--And speaking of honing one's skills....
To any and all teachers that might read this blog...this one's for YOU.
The ISTEP+ scores are out...and they all tanked (wow, just like the economy...blame it on Bush, right?) Nah, it's not G.W.'s fault...not by a long shot. It's just more signs of our times.
It's the PARENTS' fault, and THEN the KIDS fault.
Don't go and dump on the educators, when you know DAMN WELL, that you have to have warm bodies in those classroom chairs, paying the hell attention and seeking to become better persons than they all were the day before. Until THAT happens with damn near every kid, test scores will not live up to any expectation...get used to it.
Stop dumbing down the kids!
And don't get your drawers in a bunch over school BUILDINGS. We never had air conditioning (only a large fan), and sometimes the boiler broke down and we got cold, but overall, we had what we NEEDED (not what we wanted) to get a damn fine education.
What we chose to DO with that education in later life was up to US.
(At least THAT MUCH hasn't changed.)
It always comes back to several things that many of my readers ALSO believe:
-PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
-ACCOUNTABILITY
-ETHICS
-CIVILITY
Sorry friends, but without THOSE foundations of humanity, you're not going all that far in life...
You might BS others into thinking otherwise, but when all is said and done, the $hit remains the same (with apologies to Led Zeppelin).
--Two South Side girls were arrested in a fight that resulted in two TEACHERS being kicked, punched, and knocked down. The fracas started when a class debate became heated.
The debate focused on rich and poor, and after one girl was called "poor", she retaliated by fighting the other girl.
The teacher came in to break up the fight, separating the two "girls". Before the school resource officer could be summoned, one of the girls stood up and attacked the other girl.
One teacher was punched and knocked to the ground while trying to break the fight up, and a substitute teacher was kicked in the shins.
Officers did take the girls, who also suffered injuries for an extended "tour" of the ACJC (detention center).
Now THIS is exactly WHY test scores suck here...!
This videogame mentality...solve it with a brawl (just like on the old XBOX). Sure...where's that RESET BUTTON?
Then again, if these girls' PARENTS brought them up better (if they even HAVE TWO parents, that is, which is a whole OTHER issue endemic to this problem) there would be a lot less VIOLENT resolution to a LOT of problems.
I say take both girls to the gym, lace on some boxing gloves, give 'em both mouthpieces, and face protectors and then let them both WAIL THE SNOT out of each other until they can't hold their arms up any longer...THEN, make them apologize and shake hands!
Hey, it worked in OUR day, and damn well, too.
I'd also bring the parents in and have some gym teacher wail the snot out of them for a few rounds...just to wise them up.
And that's WHY I could NEVER be a teacher in TODAY'S classroom. I'm of the "Harry Senate School of classroom Discipline" (Boston Public reference) - I'd calm down a fight in the class by pulling out my pistol and capping 2 (blank) rounds to scare the $hit out of them and bring them back to (my) reality which would entail LEARNING the subject matter.
I've also taught my wife (a high school teacher) a few ways to defend herself (if need be in her classroom), but she doesn't want to learn how to take out someone's knee with EIGHT pounds pressure, how to bring down someone twice your size with your THUMB, or how to properly use a "sleeper hold"...wonder why not?
((Editor's Note#2 - If any of yuou ladies want some common sense self-defense training & tactics, come to the Police/Fire Training Academy at the old Southtown location TOMORROW. Cost is only $45 per person, and the first class starts at 0900 hrs. Small price to pay for possibly saving your life, OR shopping Wal-Mart, isnt it ?))
Like I say, your kids wouldn't really want me as their teacher...UNLESS they just wanted to LEARN.
This ain't GRAND THEFT AUTO, or WORLD OF WARCRAFT, people, it's LIFE...and the children many people see fit to bring into this world DO have VALUE.
The sooner a lot of folks realize this, and take steps to acknowledge it, the better off our future going to be.
And the future awaits us all.
In the meantime...
Be mindful of the weather and road conditions over the next 72 hours.
And DO have a safe weekend.

Another Slope To Slip On...
Our fair city is looking to streamline the parking situation downtown, and I don't mean make it EASIER in ANY way (heaven forbid).
The city would like to get all their apples in one basket, as it were by creating a PARKING AUTHORITY (ahem).
Seems that the regulation and enforcement of parking throughout the city is currently wallowing in the "too many agencies with not enough oversight" department. You have ONE agency that takes care of parking garages, with another taking care of street parking. And I have no idea where PARKING CONTROL fits into the mix, except to say they do a good job getting vehicles moved off of residential streets..
This is another of the same type of problem I've noticed that this city excels in.
Now I come from Philadelphia, population: a couple MILLION (and change).
And THEY DO have a parking "authority", the PPA.
It was even featured in an A&E series called "Parking Wars".
After watching the series, I can truthfully say that in a few regards, their "system" works. Notice I did say FEW.
In MOST regards, the system SUCKS (to put it mildly).
It has the type of RED TAPE that WASHINGTON, D.C would be envious of.
But when the population of a city reaches a "tipping point" there is no alternative. You have to create a self-evolving "monster" that will be fully able to enforce parking regulations throughout the city. The problem comes when cars get towed, booted, or otherwise impounded. THEN, the problem begins for both the city AND those people inconvenienced (and who break the law).
If you thought people had little love for city government, you ain't seen nothing yet.
The part of the system in Philly that DOES work is the people who ticket illegally parked vehicles and those who place the "boots" on the vehicle wheels. It's not a popular job by ANY means, but the "grunts in the trenches" get it done.
Overall, the PPA itself (imho) is an agency that promotes animosity between the city and it's citizens simply by the convolution of the laws it sets out to enforce...period.
That can (and will) happen when people don't want to follow the law, and others hired to enforce it do just that.
Just look at how unpopular the FWPD are in MY quadrant of the city...all because they ENFORCE the LAW. But most of the minority population have an inherent distrust and disdain for the officers, until something hits close to home. Then it's "all forgiven".
Here in Fort Wayne, we're at the starting gate of a similar race when it comes to a parking authority..
And whether we win, place, or show is dependent upon the "horse" and the "jockey" we place IN that starting gate.
Can we get all small groups into ONE, EFFECTIVE parking authority? Sure we can, but it's going to cost a few bucks; bucks we might not have. Of course, we ALL know WHO will wind up paying for any and all cost overruns, don't we?
But my question is more pertinent to the issue:
WHY couldn't ANYONE in the city government see this coming, especially with the population growth we've had here over the last 20 or so years? Why does this city always seem to wait until after the fact to even begin to act on things like this?
If you were wanting to revitalize the downtown (and they've been screwing with this for a lot longer than the "Costaplenty Square" deal was signed in the citizens' blood, sweat and tears), why not do something way back THEN, instead of waiting until NOW?
And whenever you act with such impending "immediacy, you're bound to f$ck things up, and make no mistake, things WILL be along the way.
I can definitely see the creation of ONE agency...a parking authority for this city. As to what department they will come under... that's another story. They could come under the FWPD (not my first choice, although it IS the most logical - but the police have PLENTY on their plate as it is). Maybe the street department? Perhaps the Sheriff's Department? Neighborhood Code Enforcement? How about Animal Control?
You have to realize that this will be an agency that has the ability to CITE lawbreakers, as well as the power to tow and impound vehicles.
Sure sounds like a "police" agency, doesn't it?
It must come under either public safety, public works, or community development departments..that much is certain. Pick one of those three only. It could work well, BUT...it should have been done a LONG before now.
In Other News...
--Three men were taken into custody for robbing MJ's Pizza at 3311 State Blvd. The silver Pontiac Grand Am they were driving was pulled over after a north side chase using stop sticks. When the suspects bailed, money flew out of the car. Found IN the car were several black ski masks and 2 MJ's pizzas (crime DOES create an appetite). Also founds was a full mag from an AK. Several hours after the stop, police found the AK along the road near Dupont & Lima, and believed this to be one of the weapons involved in the robbery (2nd this year at the pizza parlor, last being in April when one person at MJ's was shot in the arm).
Arrested were Brandon Britt, 23, of the 700 block of Taylor St., William Britt, 21, same address, and Julian Grady, 27, of Indianapolis. Both Britts are "guests" of the Allen County lockup under $10K bail, while Grady (also a guest of the local jail) is being held lieu of $14,000 bail.
Police also found (both in the car and on the persons) cash amounting to over $1000.
All three are believed to be involved in other robberies around the city.
Be a damn shame if something "happened" to these scumbags, wouldn't it?
--Speaking of other robberies...
Hair Plus, located at 3822 Lafayette St. was robbed around 1700 hrs last evening.The two masked men took money from a cash register (gots to get some xmas gifts for the chillun).
Twenty minutes later, the Radio Shack at Apple Glen was robbed. A man carrying a handgun ordered an employee to "hand over money". When the employee replied there was NO money in the store, he handed over his Apple iPhone, according to reports.
"Happy Holidays", eh?
Makes me wonder how many of these robberies could be avoided (and how many perps shot dead and away from society) IF we had an OPEN-CARRY law? I mean if the criminals are going to want to bring back the old west with their particular style of "holdups", then, by all means, let's arm the citizens too. Let's rally up some posses rallied and get us some "natural justice" back in vogue.
Used to be a time when you just DID NOT KNOW who was packing heat, or HOW MUCH of that heat they were carrying...so you behaved yourself, and treated others with the same level of respect. You were courteous, and civil of tongue.
Today, there is a GROSS desensitization of the masses, and these jerkoffs think everything is one damn video game after another, and that they can do whatever they wish, because they know they will probably get away with it. Time to let these perps know that in LIFE, there might not be ANY "do-overs" when they act as reprehensible and violent as they do. Yes indeed, 'tis the season to be JOLLY...
Fa-la-la-la-laaa...La-la-la-BOOM!
(one less criminal to muck up the season)
Oh, how I love happy endings!

Humpday Happenings...
Fort Wayne's *new* (old) baseball team unveiled their new team uniforms yesterday and and TWO WORDS came to my mind:
NOT IMPRESSED!
Sorry...hate to say it, but they pretty much suck.
Now the COLORS the team has aren't all that bad, and I suppose that's the ONLY saving grace to this whole (ramrodded) deal, but everything else is kind of lame.
The numbers on the backs of the shirts look like some 3 year old drew them. I saw the number *23* on one jersey and thought "That looks more like "Z-3". And yes, Virginia, I still think the NAME of the team is DUMBER THAN A BAG OF ROCKS (which is a term I use to describe most of my neighbors).
Tincaps - Potheads - Tincups...all the same to me...wrong.
But it's not like one of the last bastions of Americana (baseball) has all but been bastardized into relative oblivion, is it?
And like most every sport today (save the Olympics), it's not so much about the GAME any longer...it's about "Da money".
The "love" of the game has been superseded by endorsements, promotions, branding, and whatever other marketing ploy those running the show see fit to toss at the consumer (fan).
That's right, you're no longer JUST a fan of the game...you're a consumer; a demographic to be exploited (by any and all means possible for that "bottom line") every time you pass the turnstile and hand over that ticket.
These are no longer the days of Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Bob Gibson, or Mike Schmidt.
Get used to it.
Too cynical?
Hell yeah.
When a ball club, be it BASEball, or FOOTball, or even BASKETball enters a city (and we're not just talking about MINOR leaguers), it most likely NOT for love of the sport. It's probably some device needed to shore up the pitiful tax base that city is currently wallowing in.
Go to ANY large metropolis, take a look at the FACILITIES and then check the PRICES for tickets AND concessions.
The cost will ASTOUND you (if not send you tearfully running in the opposite direction).
Some cities tear down perfectly GOOD sports arenas or stadiums to (what else?) erect totally NEW sports areas or stadiums mere blocks from the former one. And to what end?
Are MORE people going to the (higher-priced) games?
Hardly.
It's all about grasping at straws...something to take the consumer's eye off of the other problems that city may face.
And JUST like ancient Rome, these cities do it with good reason.
Keep the populace ENTERTAINED...and they'll soon forget they're being fleeced by the politicians.
Yeah...worked in the past...why not today?
Keep their minds OCCUPIED (and let them play on the railroad tracks, so they never see the train coming). Sure makes sense to me.
It was once said that the FIRST victim in ANY war is the TRUTH.
Well, someone ALSO said that KNOWLEDGE IS TRUTH.
And yet another stated that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
So, being a fan of Sherlock Holmes, if I were to invoke deductive reasoning, what those "in charge" don't want YOU to know is that THE TRUTH IS POWER, therefore you are not to know the TRUTH, for if you DID, that would give POWER to YOU (the PEOPLE).
Amazing how that all works out, isn't it?
When it comes do damn near ALL politics, it IS all about DECEPTION, and that leads me to believe that required reading for these people MUST include THE ART OF WAR by SUN TSU. Sorry guys, hate to disappoint, but I read it AS WELL.
And if that makes me (and others like me) seem to be the quintessential cynic and able to find fault in damn near everything, you must know that it's because I've been brought up to rarely take things at face value. I've been taught to question that which NEEDS questioning. I've learned that what you SEE isn't always what you GET, and that NO good deed ever goes unpunished.
But that was back in the "stone age", when barbaric practices such as ethics, morality, civility, and courtesy ruled the day.
Yet, times have changed, and unfortunately many people have changed right along with those times.
I know, you're going to tell me that people who DON'T ADAPT are doomed to defeat.
Oh, it's OK to "adapt", as long you don't sacrifice your core principles in the process.
We ALL adapt to something, situationally-speaking. To do otherwise DOES invoke defeat. We adapt to hot weather, cold weather, rainy weather, snowy weather (well most do anyway). We adapt to "boom" times, as well as the "bust" times. We adapt to higher oil prices, and damn near higher everything prices.
We "go with the flow" as it were.
But there is nothing wrong with swimming against the current when dictated.
Look at salmon...they do it because they have to in order to survive as a species.
Seems there is a lesson (for us) to be learned THERE.
And to think this started out with a minor league baseball team's *new* uniforms.
No one ever said understanding life was EASY...did they?
But one thing understanding life it is not, and that's impossible.
It just takes a few more minutes than usual.
That is, if you can peel yourself away from whatever it is that's distracting you.
Just like Mikey from the cereal commercials of old...
Try it...you might like it.

It's Now Official...
We're definitely in the throes of "old man winter" (at least if this morning's temperatures are any indicator).
And, we're definitely in a recession (according to the latest analysis of our economy).

We've also seen Wall Street taking the E-TICKET ride on the financial roller coaster.

And even gas prices are inching their way back up.We're not out of this fiasco yet.
So, if any of those items aren't enough to throw you "off your game", hang in there...

...it gets even better.

**From the "Ether" It's Meth Or a Car That Won't Start Department:
Seems Kosciusko County is making some decent busts when it comes to meth.
A working lab was seized on the east side of Lake Wawasee in a mobile home (9700 block of East Chickadee Drive - Cromwell) around 2100 hours last Wednesday when Drug Task Force officers responded to a tip regarding the smell of ether.
Arrested were James Charters, 38, who faces dealing charges, and David Gaff, 31 of Syracuse (also had an outstanding warrant). Both are being held without bail. A third person, a woman from Syracuse, age 24 was being held on $350 bond for a misdemeanor count of visiting a common nuisance.
**From the "See, I told you that law was enforceable" Department:
FWPD officers arrested a man last week after he ran from them for NO GOOD REASON.
A patrol officer was looking for suspected drug activity in the 290 block of Lillie Street and came across a group of men. The officer talked with the men when one of them took off running.
After a foot pursuit, the man, IDed as Marteques L. Black, was arrested with the use of pepper spray. The officer asked him why he ran. Black replied he thought there was a warrant out for him (guilty conscience, huh?), according to the report.
Police checked and found no warrant was pending, but Black was charged with resisting law enforcement.
Black was citing for fleeing police because of his FAILURE TO USE A SIDEWALK WHEN PROVIDED.
Hallelujah...the laws DO work.
Now...IF ONLY we'd have this same officer with a brand new citation book write up ALL the damn "streetwalkers" we have around here...the city would be out of the financial "red" in NO time!
**From the "Last Place They'll Look" Department:
The 64 year old man who caused a three car fatal pileup along Wayne Trace Rd at Oxford (Sunday) was arrested after he fled the scene on foot.
Donald Marshall, who lives at 2603Holton Avenue was found AT HIS HOME, where he had injuries consistent with being in a car crash. Marshall was also intoxicated, had slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes.
He faces prelim charges of OWI, leaving the scene of an accident (causing death), and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. He is being held without bail.
Marshall was previously convicted of OWI back in 2006.
Here's the link to the news Sentinel story:
http://news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081202/NEWS/312029995
(In my best Horatio Caine)...So the question becomes:
How the hell did THIS poor excuse for a human being slip through the cracks, Ms Prosecutor?
Seems YOUR department didn't just drop the ball with this guy...hell, they blocked for the OTHER TEAM!
(Bob Gevers must have set the "standard" for the prosecutor's office when it comes to flubbing good cases)
I will bet good coin of the realm that this EXACT SAME scenario is being played out all over this city...just waiting for the next OWI fatality to occur. Hell, I have one felony OWI butthead at the other end of MY block (arrested over THREE times), and he's still driving the hell all over. Yet this city is considering allowing alcohol sales on SUNDAY. Cripes, these drunks are getting PUH-LENTY enough as it is the OTHER SIX DAYS. Why add insult to injury (or death)?
Just another fine example how the local judicial system fails EVERY ONE OF YOU, (the taxpayers) who expect justice...and get a lot less.
Finally, I was getting my nightly dose of Bill O'Reilly and one segment really got my attention. it had to do with the Wal-mart stampede on Long Island that caused the death of a store employee. Customers trampled to death a SIX FOOT FIVE, TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY POUND MAN...all for the sake of getting a cheap deal on worthless piece of technocrap, And not even ONE DAMN PERSON extended a helping hand to allow this individual to get up. Customers even complained about his blocking the floor at the entrance...imagine that.
O'Reilly's spot focused on this "mob-mentality" that's so pervasive in America today. And Bill nailed it when he blamed the parents and the kids. We've at least ONE ENTIRE generation brought up without the values system which kept such acts like this from occurring. We've basically got parents with no scruples bringing up kids in like manner. Add technology into the mix, which has been supplanting REAL social interaction over the last few decades, and you've got a recipe for anarchy in the making.
Here's a link to the NY Daily News article:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html
Yet there are those who would be disturbed should the national guard return from overseas and begin to patrol our streets HERE (as has been alleged by 2011-2012). Seems the time is ripe to do so NOW, before more people like this Wal-Mart employee, Mr, Jdimytai Damour don't have to become the victim of hedonistic consumerism run amok.
As long as people are permitted to act irresponsibly, are not held accountable for their actions, and are basically allowed to do "whatever" for the sake of "diversity", or "rights", or "entitlement", we'll never fully be able to protect those that still understand and espouse such virtues.
But that's just *MY* opinion...
Do drive safely out there...your life depends on it!

Monday Musings...
Well, I can't think of any better way to satrt of the month of December than with a nice snowfall.
Kinda gets 'ya in that old "holiday spirit", doesn't it?
It also makes dollar signs dance in the eyes of most every AUTO BODY SHOP in the area!
And with good reason:
People have to re acclimate themselves to driving in cold, inclement weather.
Many will fail miserably, thinking that snow is only VERY cold, crystallized water, and treat driving in THAT just like driving in the rain...WRONG!
It's a whole other animal...this snow.
Without getting into the physics of all this, let's just say that conventional driving just took a day or two off.
Toss conventionality out the window (but not that empty beer bottle, you moron).
I've driven for a living...not the big rigs, mind you, but cars and other trucks, and I can say it's an exercise in one thing - PATIENCE.
If you don't have THAT, you might as well drop the keys on the coffee table, kick off the shoes and stay the hell home.
Now I've always been a tad on the IMPATIENT side, especially where (as Klatuu would say) STUPIDITY is concerned.
I simply do NOT have time for it.
But when it comes to driving in snow, sleet or ice, you adapt (quickly) or suffer the consequences.
You LEARN patience...you DEVELOP it, if for no other reason, than to make sure YOU come home at the end of the day.
The last 24 hours of (local) news bears this much out to no small degree.
With that preamble, let's look to other happenings around here.
**Fort Wayne appears to have it's 23rd homicide (by shooting) of the year (I predicted 25...or more), up at the DAYS INN along Washington Center Road. It'd be interesting to find out what two OTHER people had to say when they showed up at St.Joe Hospital with gunshot wounds. The vehicle that dropped them off (according to reports) had what looked like damage related to gunshots (um, I guess that would be BULLET HOLES???), and was described as a white SUV (well that covers quite a few HUNDRED vehicles just around MY part of the city).
**Speaking of the police, I was watching the BEHIND THE BADGE show on cable access , and Chief Rusty York was the guest.
He stated that crime had gone UP about 5% (been saying that for years), and that personal and residential robberies are UP (ditto on that). Now consider this:
York also said that DETROIT is about 1100 officers SHORT (staffing, that is), and basically, their department is answering FELONY calls only (so much for the broken window theory...the whole BUILDING is "broken" now).
York DID say he didn't expect anything like that here. I certainly hope not...we're having trouble keeping the small shit under wraps, let alone the BIG shit...like drug dealing in certain neighborhoods (and drugs coming INTO Ft. Wayne), as well as all the little things that develop (exponentially) into the much larger (and often more violent) crimes we have today.
Let's just say that so much is expected from the officers these days that it makes it that more difficult to fully realize any progress being made in certain areas of crime (due to the fact that OTHER areas of crime take center stage).
**Black Friday wasn't all that. People are being a bit more frugal (and particular) when it comes to raiding the old "hip-national-bank". I personally find it amusing at times...seeing all the ads touting sales galore.
Fact is...the "sale" was basically some item which had it's price initially RAISED...and then a "20%" off tag was tacked on, so you're not really saving AS MUCH as you think.
Some people are learning, so there is still hope for humanity.
But we're not done yet...TODAY is "Cyber Monday" for all the ONLINE shoppers (oh...joy...be still my beating heart).
**I find it amazing that 3 terrorists could hold off so many of India's military at that hotel in Mumbai (before finally getting offed). And to lose close to 200 civilians along the way says much as to the lack of efficacy of their not-so-special forces.
Perhaps this will be the learning experience they need to correct that issue. Let's just hope they don't go postal on Pakistan in the process (when it wasn't even their fault...at least it doesn't appear so yet). With both nations being NUCLEAR powers, twitchy fingers on buttons is not necessarily a good thing, because we don't know what that button is connected to.
**Lastly, I want you to take the time to read Phil Marx's blog (posted Saturday). That will clue you in to what he has to deal with daily. I have a to deal with it as well, just to a lesser degree...and I want to keep it that way, but I'm not seeing the light at the end of any tunnel (soon)...and the tunnel is getting harder to see as well.
So be careful on the roads today, it may LOOK clear, but never let your guard down when it comes to driving (and especially other drivers). Play it safe and stay aware.
And remember the word of the day:
PATIENCE (it's not just for doctors anymore)...LOL!