Friday Follies...
Been one helluva week, hasn't it?
We're seeing an unwanted health care bill STILL be shoved under our noses, the budgetary crisis at our local FWCS, and impending financial ruin for our very nation itself...so what the hell ELSE can go wrong, hmm?
Thank God that SPRING arrives this weekend.
(not that even THAT is such a welcome sign in MY neighborhood)
Still, it makes one damn glad for a weekend.
*** First off, I apologize for any haste in today's post, but the missus has taken a day off so we can do our grocery shopping THIS morning, instead of Saturday, as she has a function to attend at a school out in Aboite tomorrow.
No biggie there...I can whip up a list and get us resupplied like there's no tomorrow (and by the looks of this nation's possible future, that might quickly become a necessary requirement in a chaotic time).
I've come to enjoy grocery shopping - all the NORMAL people (well, a lot more normal ones than I get to see in MY neighborhood anyway) that I get to see makes the weekend start off on a good foot.
Problem, is that soon enough after getting back home, we're once again thrust into "Ghettoville" and it's OWN subspecies of residential flotsam (...oh, joy). Can't wait to hear another day of boom-car driven, cacophonous testosterone from these acoustically-impaired idiots.
*** Next, I want to make sure everyone understood yesterday's post about out LEOs.
If anyone (badge or no badge) took it as a slap against the rank & file members of ANY department, you were mistaken.
I wanted to address ANY and ALL inadequacies in the "administrative" arena.
You guys and gals on our mean streets keep doing what you doing.
It's certainly not YOUR fault if the top dogs haven't a REAL clue as to how to go about doing THE JOB in a manner which actually makes progress in a neighborhood.
You're just following orders.
But always be aware that there might come a time when men and women (such as yourselves) of good conscience discover that blindly following an order that you (deep down) believe is not in the best interest of the populace may not be the way to go, and is contrary to the oath (and laws) you swore to uphold.
Just wanted to make sure that WAS clear to everyone.
Carry on, people.
*** Next, regarding Fort Wayne's current educational funding shortfall for the FWCS...
(rolls eyes)...where to begin...
The teacher's "union" (I am always wary whenever a union becomes involved) put forth a proposition that was voted on, and it PASSED...
Yay for the home team (teachers), right?
Well, not so fast, kids...
(there is always more to the story)
Seems the teachers will NOT take a cut in SALARY...OR BENEFITS (sounding damn good so far, right?)...
If things ended THERE, it would have been damn good.
Problem is, FWCS will STILL wind up LAYING OFF somewhere "around" EIGHTY teachers (most likely, it will be more, as some high schools are already looking at perhaps a number greater than TEN layoffs per school). So there's more of the REAL story you're not privy to.
The custodial staff made enough concessions in pay AND benefits so that they may NOT be "outsourced".
But, getting back to the teacher's union...
I mean "if" you are looking at loosing some of your "union membership" via layoffs, wouldn't you (as a union) be trying to KEEP them, instead of casting them adrift?
Sure, there may be teachers who have husbands ALREADY laid off, so what is in the better interest of the educational system all around?
Wouldn't it be BETTER to negotiate to take the hit in some benefits and/or salary than to have a household with (now) TWO unemployed people (quite possibly parents OF students in the FWCS system)? Are the students NOT better served by having those potentially laid-off teachers IN the schools, keeping class sizes smaller and furthering education?
Somehow, I don't believe the teacher's UNION acted in the membership's BEST interest.
Still, the teachers VOTED for it, so maybe I'm missing something here (or THEY did).
Musta been one HELLUVA carrot that was dangled in front of someone!
Add to that the fact that FWCS is going BACK to a SEVEN period day and away from the "block" system, which, when I first saw it a few years back, said it was a BAD idea...and I'm not a teacher (although I played one in Sunday School). I'm just a guy that follows logic and common sense, and I could see that this bird wasn't gonna fly, no matter HOW MANY feathers were stuck up it's butt!
FWCS should have NEVER deviated from the traditional "period system" that worked SO damn well for us "old-timers".
Of course, when they change the school day scheduling, it will be EARLIER, and NOT later...so much for all that "hype" about Daylight Saving Time, hmm? They want to not impact on SPORTS...WTF?
When I went to school, the day started at 0815 and went up to TEN periods (until 1700 or 5PM). Classes were staggered throughout the day for students; some came later and left later, others came in early and left early. If you had extracurricular activities, you probably came in early and left late. That's just the way it went...and THAT worked.
Now, with these changes, Wifey gets to rise IN THE DAMN DARK for the entire school year (she has to be in school by 0720 hrs), which means she will need a good night's sleep (to make sure she doesn't hit any kids who walk in the street, and you can't see unless they SMILE at you)....ROFLMAO!
Yeah, like THAT will happen in THIS neighborhood with the morons driving boom cars all over the damn place!
But that smacks back to that whole GOOD POLICING thing I mentioned yesterday...
FWPD can't "effectively" address the noise issue regarding boom cars, in spite of ALL the money they missed LAST year down here (and could make this year).
Lotsa caring going on at the old HQ.
Hey, maybe the wife can SUE someone over this?
(then we really COULD move far enough away...on OUR OWN terms)
Yeah, nice thing about DREAMS...they don't cost a damn penny!
*** Lastly, this weekend heralds the beginning of SPRING...
Now, I don't know about where YOU live, but I'd wager the advent of springtime means something much different than what I'm exposed to (which is far from what I used to remember as springtime).
So next week, I'll be posting some of the "rites" of Spring...then AND now (based on people, places and things).
Hopefully, it will rekindle some nice memories in your life, demonstrate to you that some people have much different priorities in their lives, and maybe even help you further enjoy those things you've come to know and cherish.
One thing I do promise...it won't be boring...that's for damn sure.
It WILL be enlightening.
So have an enjoyable weekend, take a moment to make yourself smile, and above all...
Stay safe out there, America.