It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...
No, this isn't the beginning of some novel...Lord knows this is THE most overused first line in history, but we DID have some rumblings here in the "Heartland" last evening.
Tornado warnings were issued until after 2330 hrs, and severe winds took down a lot of trees, knocking out traffic signals and power lines throughout the city of Fort Wayne.
And, as usual, we had our emergency candles, lanterns, and flashlights. We (fortunately) did not need them.
I'm figuring with that ice storm we had 2 winters ago, we had plenty of questionable branches ALREADY removed, so we might be okay for some time. Call it a somewhat perverse method of "planning ahead".
It makes a good case for NOT parking under a tree, though...
You have to admit...there's nothing like a nice, and potentially damaging stormfront to take your mind off of the day's events, right?
Like we really NEED such diversion...
*** I'm sure you enjoyed yesterday's "Lesson in History", both on the news AND right here (regarding the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal). It played out pretty much as I (along with a lot of other people) figured.
The "new" COMCENTCOM (Commander, Central Command) is the man who led the SURGE in Iraq that the leftists thought was a waste of time and would NEVER work...and who were proven wonderfully INCORRECT in that assumption: General David Petraeus.
This is the SAME General Petraeus that was lambasted (by the liberals) in a full-page "ad" in the New York Post back in 2007 with the byline: "General BETRAY US?", and sparked a Senate committee to BAN such adverts in the media in the future.
Coincidentally, one of the senators that did NOT vote to ban the ad was none other than our very own Commander-In-Chief...Barack Hussein Obama (mmmm, mmmm, mmmmmm). Interesting, yes?
As quoted from yesterday's impromptu press conference following the resignation of McChrystal, Obama said "I welcome DEBATE among my team, I will not division"...
Really?
REALLY???
You best check under the bed and in the closets, because you've GOT "division" in your team, Bub.
Far leftists don't think you're moving America into a progressive socialist society FAST enough.
But that's a whole other post for another day, isn't it?
At least all of THIS kept our minds off of that OIL SPILL in the Gulf....
*** Oops, spoke too soon.
The spill has reached the Florida panhandle beaches now, and after the temporary cap was "nudged" off by a robotic underwater vehicle, has been replaced back on the offending pipe.
Here's the article link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gulf_oil_spill
While you're at it, you might find THIS story interesting:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703900004575325322304697784.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection
It appears that the FEDS are stepping in to hamper the building of sand BERMS to stem the oil flow from getting into precious marsh lands easy of the Mississippi river.
Governor Bobby Jindal has his work cut out for him...that's for sure.
But it was our GOVERNMENT that was woefully ill-prepared for such a spill in the FIRST place, and not necessarily BP's fault.
here's the link...(a very good read):
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703900004575325131111637728.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection
God, who would have thought that *I* would be gleaning the pages of the WALL STREET JOURNAL...LOL!
(goes to show you're never too old to learn new things)
*** Now, if you live in Indiana, and "felt the earth move...under your feet" (as the song goes), congratulations.
You felt the 5.2 earthquake that happened in Quebec, Ontario yesterday around 1400 hours.
personally, I feel the frigging earth move every damn time one of those annoying and obnoxious BOOMCARS comes a thumping down our street, so I missed the damn earthquake (would have been a welcome respite from the din of diversity).
And while we're on the subject of "diversity"....how's about this?
*** More shootings in Chi-Town?
Here's the link to the story:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2415428,weekend-shooting-roundup-062110.article
Wasn't it LESS than TWO MONTHS ago when they had slightly over THIRTY shootings in one weekend?
But here we are AGAIN...with over FIFTY this time.
And the shootings took place (again) in predominantly BLACK areas....(who'da thunk?)
Guess you can't change the stripes of some animals, can you?
Authorities (there) have no idea as to WHY the sudden spike in shootings.
How about a bunch of lazy asses with guns, cars, attitude and drugs...makes for an explosive recipe for disaster, don'cha think?
IN many ways, we have a microcosmic form of that here in Fort Wayne, as evidences by recent shooting spates.
And all OUR "black leaders" can do is PRAY (that it doesn't come to THEIR neighborhoods).
That doesn't seem to be working all that well.
With the divisions we're seeing in America these days, across the political and social spectrum, we may be headed for another Civil War (which does not sound the LEAST bit "civil' ).
I said for decades that something like this could very well happen, and I always pray I'm dead wrong, but it seems closer each day.
It makes me wonder how much more the people of this nation will stand for before the "lid blows off the pot".
And any scenario such as that is scary to contemplate for a lot of reasons.
It might all come down to not so much what we WANT to do, but rather what we NEED to do, as a people, to make sure this nation remains a viable entity.
We see that urban police departments can be overwhelmed in such cases, seeking outside intervention by other agencies.
We really don't ever want to see that happen...anywhere.
But if each of us pays the hell attention to what is going on IN this nation, we can affect a change for the better.
And we do it one person at a time.
We learn...we listen...we watch, and we teach to others all that we have taken in.
We help one another. We chide one another, an we do it all with a sense of loving care for our people and this country.
America might not be perfect, but this nation is WAY better than the alternatives we see around the globe today.
We, as a people are not perfect, but we can work toward personal betterment.
And we can succeed...as long as we have the desire to do so.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and... Stay safe out there, America.