Humpday Happenings...
Middle of the week, middle of the month, and I'm in the middle of my FIRST cup of coffee.
Sounds like all the makings of some decent blogging.
So here we go...
And please forgive the tardiness of today's post...had to make a MENARDS run...(always fun...) for some patio chairs (picture will be below), some weed killer (they don't have a formula for annoying neighbors...darn), and some replacement bulbs, along with some butterscotch candies for my buddy's horse (whenever we get to take their CHRISTMAS PRESENTS to them...yikes, I AM behind my time on that one).
** Florida authorities have charged seven men (so far) with the killings of a couple in Pensacola, whose only crime was adopting special needs children and providing a better life for them (as seen here).
Police are calling this home invasion something akin to a "military operation".
Here are a few links to this story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,532660,00.html

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8076731&page=1

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31903985/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

All I can say is that THIS is the type of scenario we would never see say...30-40 years ago, unless it was a (big) MAFIA "contract".
** In more local (crime) news...
All you have to do is change the name and city, and you'd pretty much have a scene replayed most EVERY day in the court systems across our nation.
Here's the link to the whole story: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090715/LOCAL03/307159986/1002/LOCAL The area where this shooting took place is the neighborhood of Phil Marx (the fellow that had his house firebombed a few years back), and he could tell you all about the DRUG DEALING that goes down there, in spite of the constant patrols by the FWPD to halt the trafficking. This shooting by the accused (Anthony Parish, pictured here) is not the first, nor will it be the last in that area. The odd thing is that a friend of Anthony, one RICO PARRISH (spelling is different), is STILL on the streets, even after being arrested numerous times in the past.
Now, I don't live there, and can only relate what information I am provided and can dig up, but it doesn't make sense that this punk could be covered in "teflon", much like Nicky Scarfo (the Teflon Don) used to be back in Philly. Rico was even seen brandishing a firearm recently (clearly a violation - possession by a felon), and yet this boy keeps flying under the radar. Be nice to find out what "his" game really is, and why HE is free as a bird (as of this post).
But, back to Anthony Parish. He's currently on trial in ONE shooting, already been CONVICTED to 40 years in ANOTHER murder, and is awaiting trial on a THIRD shooting (homicide). How's THAT for someone who needs to be placed in some DEEP, DARK dungeon (and forgotten)?
Like I said, SOME people do not deserve to be mainstreamed with the REST of us. "Mr. Upstanding Citizen"...he's NOT.
And "IF" one were to go to the DOJ website and look at statistics for say....black crime, those numbers would astound you.
Yet, it's not JUST about black-on-black crime. The black-on-WHITE crime stats are rising at an alarming rate, but somehow, that never seems to make the news, does it?
And just so YOU know...the "WHITE" refers to Caucasian AND Hispanics...yeah, they lump us ALL together, so we are seeing rises in black crime against Hispanics as well.
** In a somewhat related story:
In Indiana, the educational "gap" between blacks and whites is remaining pretty much the SAME, despite the best efforts of the state to dump tons of money into the system to close this gap.
Gee, that also sounds like something happening all across the nation.
Now the MAIN reason the gap has remained stagnant, is that although the BLACK kids have indeed improved, so have the WHITE kids...
Guess we couldn't see THAT coming, could we?
If any school system tries to raise the test scores for one group of kids through innovative programs, or whatever, it stands to reason the other kids will ALSO reap the benefits of that program (or whatever)...DUH!
So, the school system is basically back to square one.
Nice to know ALL that tax money went to SOME good.
Of course, the "reason" (read excuse) always cited for poor performance in black kids is POVERTY.
WRONG...sorry, but not having what everyone ELSE has is NO excuse or reason to NOT show up FOR school, fall asleep in class, fail to bring the essential tools need to perform (like a pencil, pen or notebook)...NOT when there are already programs in place to GIVE this crap TO those kids...for FREE!
And where are all the poor WHITE kids...and the poor ASIAN kids...and the poor HISPANIC kids...and the poor BURMESE kids?
Seems they're doing okie-dokie. Don't hear THEM bitch, piss and moan about their lot in life, or their inability to PREPARE THEMSELVES for scholastic endeavors, do you? And many of THEM are FIRST-GEN residents of this nation...imagine that.
Well, we all know where this leads, right?
It leads to crime....that's what happens when ethnic kids (erroneously) blame whitey for everything, refuse to learn, because it's a "white" thing, and then go and terrorize a neighborhood, usually winding up incarcerated (or dead) long before their time.
The blame is NEVER placed where it belongs, unfortunately.
Another case of not seeing the forest for the trees.
And the result is the court cases mentioned above.
Today's world has plenty of problems, and many of them will seek YOU out, so the lesson to be learned here is NEVER go looking for THEM...you'll waste a lot of time...time that can be better spent on more profitable pursuits, be they professional OR personal.
Now...about those patio chairs...
Yeah, these guys only cost about $50 each, and cushions were $12 a pop, so you can figure we sank some decent "economic stimulus dinero" into this...
At least CHINA made out pretty well today...heh, heh, heh.
We TRY to make this little slice of "paradise" for ourselves...it's not much, but it is sincere.
Well, the rain looks like it's coming (finally), and I wish I could send along some to those of you hoping for it.
Have a great remainder of the week, and always remember...
Stay safe out there, America.