Monday Musings...
Well kids, we've got a full boat of "stuff" out there today....doesn't matter what city you live in, either.
So let's just dive right in and see who can swim, shall we?
Regarding the "cold war" on the home front..."Sam Elliott" has left the building...!
I'm getting back more to my irascible self (good for some, bad for others, and they KNOW who they are...Bwahahaha). That worked out good yesterday when I had to "work some magic" as our one 'puter got a case of the "Boot-Loops" AGAIN (every 3-6 months, go figure). Patient cured!
*** First up, I've managed to procure some more .45 ACP ammo (thanks to a close friend), so all of a sudden, I'm having this strange desire to get myself to a shooting range...like an itch that need scratching, you know?
*** The weather is sucking (again) here in the Heartland...off and on snow showers, laced with possible freezing drizzle. Temps are rising to near 30 degrees though, so that won't be TOO bad.More snow headed to us (here) by week's end...always fun.
(note to self: place a call to Punxatawney, PA and talk to the GROUNDHOG about the 6 more weeks of winter thing.)
*** An Indy officer remains in a coma after being shot four times during a traffic stop yesterday.
Here's the link to the story:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/indy-officer-shot-during-traffic-stop
Officer David Moore, age 29, a four-year veteran of the Indy Metro force suffered two gunshot wounds to the face and neck, one to the chest and one to his leg.
My prayers go out to him, his family and the department.
A suspect was arrested, but not charged with the shooting.
A black male, one Thomas Hardy, age 60 was detained after it was reported that he instead robbed a dollar store in the area.
The last Indy officer to be shot in a similar manner was Officer Jason Fishburn, back in 2008 while chasing a murder suspect.
Fishburn has recovered, but has some permanent brain damage.
*** Four Detroit police officers were shot and wounded inside their own precinct house yesterday, and two deputies in Washington state were wounded in another shooting.
here's the link to THIS story:
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/26589803/detail.html
In the Detroit shootings, there were NO metal-detectors at the station doors.
A Commander was wounded in the back, and a female officer was treated and released from the hospital when her body armor deflected the round to her chest.
None of the officers were suffering any life-threatening wounds.
The suspect WAS killed.
In the (Port Orchard) Washington state shootings, two deputies were wounded.
The suspect was killed as well as a woman who appeared to go to the aid of the suspect and ran into the line of fire.
I'll tell 'ya, folks...anyone that thinks it's really SAFE out there...don't know JACK (or sh*t).
You can do what I recommend as far as maintaining that SITUATIONAL AWARENESS of YOUR surroundings, and that alone can go far to protect YOU, but when some nutjob wants to shoot something or somebody with little or NO regard for himself or anyone else, all you CAN do is try to make like a hole in the ground.
To all my readers who are LEOS out there..I'm not liking this "trend" I'm seeing one damn bit.
We're seeing way too many "headshots" to officers, either by accident or on purpose.
I've even heard rumors of "hit-squads" on police, specifically targeting them (by gangs).
How frigging BRAZEN is that?
And the lack of security at a precinct house in ONE of the nation's WORST cities when it comes to crime (in order to allow people access and make them feel better about the police) is nonsense.
One can only hope that clearer heads will prevail so that no more officers are placed even more "at-risk" by the decisions of some higher-up.
I'd hate to think we're somehow starving for a war zone on our very city streets, but what else can be ther result of this "open-season" declared on LEOs out there? This isn't some damn hunting season where whatever "manhood" you wish you had is measured by the "trophies" you bag, for Christ's sake!
But these perps best learn that if it's war they desire, they'd better know RIGHT NOW that they should be a lot more careful about what they wish for.
They JUST might get it (and sooner than they think).
*** Woodbridge apartments is still having robbery troubles (as was mentioned both here AND over at CWMartins' blog - Tilting At Windmills), and they finally have a "person-of-interest".
The suspect is black (who knew?), about 5'6" -5'10", thin build, wearing a black trench coat w/ white piping and baggy pants (well, that fits almost ANYONE BUT ME in MY ghettohood). His gun was described as a black semi-auto.
Be a real shame if this thug was found face down in the St. Mary's river....a REAL shame.
*** Lastly today, longtime fitness "god" Jack LaLanne has passed away at the age of 96, due to complications from pneumonia.
Here's the link to the *411*:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6052223
Now even I remember growing up watching his 1/2 hour show on TV (when we only had THREE channels).
He used to come on just before I went to school, and I recall doing those jumping jacks with him as a kid.
(we were so damn impressionable in those days...musta been all that rampant INNOCENCE we enjoyed)
And it's because of Jack Lalanne that you have ALL those BALLY FITNESS centers (they bought HIS chain of centers out a while back).
Not too shabby for the son of French IMMIGRANTS (that came here LEGALLY), is it?
I believe he was the FIRST fitness merchant that received a star on Hollywood's WALK OF FAME.
Goes to show that both DIET and EXERCISE never hurt anyone...helluva tribute. (so there, Michelle Obama...stop trying to fill HIS shoes w/ government regulations for food...ain't gonna happen)
People will do the right thing, IF properly "motivated", and Jack certainly had a way to get one going.
I don't think I even had the amount of the energy at EIGHT years old that HE had at EIGHTY...LOL!
He was certainly a very remarkable man that made a lot of sense and lived a very good life.
I know I will miss his "positivity" about life in general.
So boys & girls, I would trust that all of you (to paraphrase from the poet Rudyard Kipling) will manage "to keep your head about you, while everyone around you is losing theirs and blaming it on you"...
(here's the link if you want to read the entire poem)
http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm
That should provide today's personal edification, no matter what the fates have in store.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.