Tuesday Tidbits...
It's time to peruse the sections of the paper for some stories that might not necessarily be making PAGE ONE, but still have some kind of impact on our everyday life.
** Former President Bill Clinton is in N. Korea and he's going to attempt negotiating for the release of two American journalists who are being detained by the government (looking at a 12 year jail sentence) there for "committing hostilities against the Korean nation and for entering the country illegally".
So WHAT KIND of "hostilities" are we talking about here?
Did one of these journalists WHACK someone with their notepad or video camera?
Did they threaten to report the TRUTH?
And can you please find a way for the N. Korean government to KEEP Billy Boy?
I mean, I think he's worth swapping for those two journalists, don't you?
Say...where is "the missus", Bill?
** Here's a case of a situation arising from the paraphrased saying: "What happens on duty doesn't always STAY on duty"...
A FWPD officer is being suspended for SIX MONTHS for conducting a sex act on a woman (consensually) during his shift.
Here's the link to the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090804/LOCAL/308049979/1002/LOCAL

Now, it's a damn shame that his K-9 "partner" won't have his regular handler around for a spell, but just because you're wearing a shield, it doesn't give you the right to perform "extra curricular" activities while on the damn clock, does it? No "horizontal mambo" on duty!
And you surely don't do anything like this if there is ANY chance of having it all come back and bite you in the ass, in any way, shape, or form, right?
While this is reason to dismiss, officer Thomas Andrews will only face suspension for the time mentioned in the story.
Interestingly enough, Andrews was suspended EIGHT other times since joining the force back in 1994, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't for something of THIS magnitude and severity.
Next time....maybe wait until you're OFF duty...'ya think?
Your supposed to be better than that, and setting an EXAMPLE to your community AND to your fellow officers.
** The Fort Wayne Airport is currently enjoying the company of some vintage WW2 "warbirds", and if you're in the area, you might want to take a gander at these aircraft.
As part of the WINGS OF FREEDOM association, they represent a patriotic tribute to the men who served in the skies over Europe during that war, as well as the men (and women) who BUILT these aircraft.
There is a Boeing B-17G "Flying Fortress", a Consolidated B-24J "Liberator", and a (modified to seat two) North American P-51C "Mustang". Rides are available, but tours only cost $12 for adults, and $6 for kids.
ALL proceeds go to maintenance of these fine airplanes
I managed to roam inside of BOTH a B-17 and a B-24 in earlier days, and I have to give credit to those that flew in them. I'm about 5'7", and even I have a hard time climbing about inside these ships, so imagine if you're 6 feet tall (or more)...not much room to maneuver inside...and cramped as hell. The walkway in the bomb bay was only about a foot wide, and you had bomb racks full of 500 pounders all around you.
Here's a link to a brief video of the "tour":
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090804/VID/908049996
You'll find it pretty cool (even if the audio is a bit "windblown").
** A few more thoughts on this whole "Cash for Clunkers" deal.
First, here is a picture of one of our "local boom boyz", and his wonderfully painted and rusting Chevy Caprice Classic (from the late 80s), doing what HE does best...basically trash the neighborhood and act with no regard for anyone else.
And YES, that is "stuff" he's dumping out the car window. Don't know what, exactly.
Now this car runs (unfortunately) and has a nice LOUD stereo (which could use the business end of a sledgehammer), BUT...THIS is the kind of vehicle that could be considered for this clunker deal.
This moron is representative of close to 60-70 percent of ALL the vehicles just in MY area, and while these jerks seem to evade the police on a daily basis, this particular idiot will be someone who has no interest in this clunker deal.
He LIKES his POS Chevy. He KNOWS it's annoying to others, and he THINKS he's cool while driving it around.
Well, it's that false sense of superiority that masks his inferiority complex (and his obviously inadequate genitalia) because the louder the car stereo...the smaller the penis...yeah, it's a man-boy thing.
Be nice if he married this crate to a tree, and saved us ALL about $4500, wouldn't it?
** The recession is being touted as "now being over"...
I for one, am not ready to claim "victory" in this battle...not quite yet.
Just because the DOW has climbed into more familiar territory (over 9000), and just because manufacturing is seeing a slight growth (as is consumer spending), doesn't necessarily mean we;'re out of the woods YET, kids.
Manufacturing tends to rise in late summer because by October, new vehicles hit showrooms, and new model lines for appliances and electronics are on the floor, as well as the big "gear-up" for the Christmas season, so that's not a really VALID point.
Consumer spending rises because people have some money to spend on things they NEED and are looking to replace. it's not about frivolous spending on electric dog polishers...not by a long shot. People are still cautious and spending a lot more wisely.
As for the DOW rising...it's a damn roller coaster, people.
After every rise, there are dips before the next hill...that's the way the system goes.
But we're also hearing that oil supplies need to be cut back...(here we go again).
According to the IEA, production fell 6.7% this year, as compared to 3.7% back in 2007 (maybe the Arabs are just taking some time off?), and that oil fields are being depleted at a faster rate than once predicted.
So that could basically hurt any economic recovery.
Like I said...the recession ain't quite over yet, folks (unless you want to admit it IS...and that we're into a full-blown DEPRESSION now).
Lastly, when it comes to having my hand held, I much more preferred it was my dear, departed parents doing it, instead of the vice-like grip of Big Government.
But, as you get older, you learn that the time for hand-holding is OVER, unless you're going to be doing it for YOUR children...or grand children (until THEY figure out what you already know).
But there are those in our society that WANT their hands held...ad perpetuum, it seems. And they don't care how much it costs...YOU.
And our government just laps this up like spilled milk on the floor in a houseful of cats!
They LIVE for this kind of "control".
And the people they "serve" LIVE for that control, all the while believing they're still "free".
I don't.
I subscribe to the notion that you succeed or fail based on what YOU do..or do not do. YOUR willingness to press on during adverse times dictates the level of the American spirit...that same spirit that made this nation great.
YOU control YOUR destiny...
It's YOUR life, YOUR decisions, and YOUR future that you hold in the palm of YOUR hand.
Let the government run the COUNTRY...that's THEIR job.
Let every one of us run our LIVES...that's OUR job.
Preserve you freedoms and your liberties for yourselves...and your children.
After all, it's THEIR future as well, if not more so.
Stay safe out there, America.