Monday Musings...
Another dusting of snow this weekend made it look nice again...
And, it's been holding back the thaw that's been overflowing the river banks (well, most of them anyway) around the area.
Saw our FIRST police car of the month (always a grand event for me), and I know I can look forward to at LEAST another 2-3 in the remainder of March.
(in spite of ALL the crap that goes on down here in my three square block area)
Now, with this little "taste" of spring around here, and temperatures tickling those mid-40s, while maybe that's not QUITE enough to get your crocus popping through the ground, it IS time to start another ghetto tradition:
LEAVING CARS ALONG THE STREETS.
Now, before I get into the meat & potatoes of this, let me first say that *IF* people took better CARE of their vehicles, this would occur with a lot LESS frequency. Driving IS a privilege, after all, and NOT a "right".
Now...onto the good stuff.
This car was left along the street early Saturday. Not a bad car, EXCEPT for that busted front wheel (suspension failure).
Reminds me of that SATURN that I found on another Saturday morning along OUR property (and took half a day to remove, thanks to the ineptitude of the owner, PLUS a boomcar and some lookie-loos to monitor the situation).
Nothing is EVER easily done down here...remember that.
How many______(fill in the blank with the ghetto-dwellers of YOUR choice) does it take to fix a broken car?
Now 'ya got the idea...
So, I called the FWPD out to check the car.
(never saw the officer get out of his car)
About an hour later, someone showed up, took their "sh*t" out of the car and drove off. (in a NEW Hyundai Azera of all things...welfare is great, don'cha think?)
A bit later, a flatbed finally came, and that guy had one helluva time trying to get a THREE-wheeled car onto the truck (they're meant to roll on...on ALL FOUR WHEELS). Some folks love creating more problems for others...and that's why we have "blighted areas" of our cities...and DETROIT...lol!
But, I digress...
The car was finally removed from the area, but at least I got to call the FWPD and have them roll through the ghettohood.
(stolen ones tend to wind up down here for some strange reason...wonder WHY?)
Just another day in the ghettohood...where sanity has taken an extended "holiday".
But wait...there's more!
*** You recall those "flash mobs" in Philly and Chicago from early LAST year, right?
(if not, do a search - scary stuff there)
They're baaaa-aaaack.
Well, now those "mobsters" have decided to "kick it up a notch", and this story was probably ONLY shown locally (in Minnesota).
I never saw it air in Ft. Wayne.
In a nutshell:
(( St. Paul Store Robbed By A Mob Of Teenagers
February 22, 2011 6:33 PM - By James Schugel, WCCO-TV
ST. PAUL (WCCO) — A mob of teenagers ran into a St. Paul convenience store Saturday night, robbed it and there was nothing the clerk could do.
According to police, nearly 50 teenagers ran inside the Holiday gas station off Wabasha Street South and took whatever they could in just a matter of minutes. St. Paul Police caught about half of the mob. "Our investigators are now in the process of identifying others involved and holding them accountable as well," said police spokesman Andy Skoogman.
There is video of the robbery, but Holiday’s managers aren’t releasing it to the media.
((Really? I think THIS is the video they're "not releasing":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1KqSiRKS7Q
The same style "mob robbery" happened at a BP gas station off Lexington and I-94 back in September.
Cameras captured the kids everywhere inside the store shoplifting and one of the kids robbed the clerk, too. ))
Here's the link to the entire story:
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/116686374.html
Yes, friends, we now have MOB-ROBBERIES happening.
And don't think for a minute that this was a "random" happenstance...it was PLANNED. (thanks to modern technology like texting)
Now, the (predominantly white) flashmob that broke out into SONG at a mall is one thing (and really cool, too)...THIS (completely black) robbery is quite the other.
Could this be considered a CULTURAL THANG?
It reminded me of post-Katrina NOLA...only WITHOUT the KATRINA.
Mob-mentality...we can add that to the ever-growing list of abnormal behavior attributed to "inner-city youth".
And WHY is that?
Lack of parental authority, lack of self-control, lack of discipline, lack of education... for starters.
(but they DO go to school, Bob)
Well, they MAY show up, but that doesn't automatically make them all a scholastic genius, does it?
Can't learn by "osmosis", can you?
It's the same mentality that grants carte-blanche when it comes to littering...or playing that god-awful loud music...or pissing in public...or killing each other...or otherwise being a general nuisance to "regular folk".
They do it...because THEY CAN.
Yes, it's called LACK OF SELF-CONTROL...coupled with a LACK OF BOUNDARIES and a sense of ENTITLEMENT.
And they expect to succeed as well as those who apply themselves.
(we're ALL winners - nobody fails....yeah, right)
Helluva mentality.
Sad to say, this nation created it, allowed it to grow and prosper, and fostered it's generational perpetuation.
We should have been holding everyone to the SAME standards, and not just "saying" it.
Now, I can't imagine any of us growing up pulling this kind of robbery, or ANY kind of robbery AT ALL.
You want to talk about having SEVEN kinds of hell raining down upon a teenager's head?
This kind of crap (today) would have done it up nicely, back in my day.
We'd all be eating a LOT of meals standing the hell up, and for quite a while.
You can all consider this just more of "YOUR TAX-PAYING DOLLARS AT WORK", right?
And that brings me to something I've been thinking about ever since this whole "America's broke" stuff became front-page news...
The politicians and pundits all "claim" that "we" (this nation) have to start cutting costs, and they want to begin with...ENTITLEMENTS.
(about fracking time!)
BUT...(uh, oh)...when it comes to entitlements, how come we ONLY hear about cutting SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE and MEDICAID?
Not ONE...SINGLE...WORD about cutting ANYTHING related to WELFARE.
Everyone speaking about cost-cutting has avoided THAT one like the damn PLAGUE.
(and I think you ALL know why)
If there was even the slightest "hint" at cutting ANYTHING related to the freebie-packed gravy-train for all those lazy-asses sucking down our tax dollars, there WOULD be another war in this nation...make no mistake about that!
And I'm NOT talking about the TRULY-NEEDY here..just so's we're clear.
It (welfare cuts) would make the WATTS RIOTS look like a girl scout campfire in comparison.
We'd have our very own second civil war, and there wouldn't be a damn thing "civil" about it.
Wholesale rioting and looting would be the order of the day...innocents along with police & firemean being shot dead, curfews all over, shortages in stores, martial law (because the police departments would be out-numbered and out-gunned in some cases)...Anarchy would rule the day.
And some people actually WANT that.
I certainly DO NOT...!!!
Personally, I think there should be a LOT of cost-cutting within the welfare system...way too many loopholes to drive a damn Kenworth through to suit me.
And if anyone is to get anything from our government, there HAS to be some "give and take" here.
You want that monthly check?
WORK FOR IT in some manner...lots of government infrastructure projects (shovel-ready?) to think on.
Stop taking time to drive that new ESCALADE to the car-wash every damn day, and do something PRODUCTIVE for a change.
Funny thing...when you hold ONE class of people to a certain "standard" (or no standard at all), they WILL take to that like a duck to water, as long as they keep getting "free sh*t" (at everyone else's expense).
You incentivize slothful behavior, and basically also incentivize criminal activity. (say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?)
Ever hear about the idle mind being the devil's playground?
Well, consider it like buying a new swing set or circular sliding board (each and every time they trash the OLD ones).
Give these (currently worthless) people something to aim for (aside from one another and hapless victims) and provide the incentive to WANT to achieve...and most of them WILL.
And that will eliminate a lot of the problems we're all hip-deep in these days.
It won't solve ALL of them, as a small number will always want to do nothing at all.
Well, that's THEIR problem, not ours.
I think there comes a time in every person's life when they just cannot sit idly by while the world decides to implode around them.
Sooner or later, what happens around you WILL affect you...just like in combat.
...Unless you decide to do something.
Like I say, you can't do it all, so don't try...but we all can do something, no matter how small it might seem.
Just do your part...let your conscience be your guide there.
Tough decisions need to be made all across the economic board if we're to see this nation through the perilous times ahead.
And it will take strong people of all backgrounds to "man-up" and get the job done.
I believe we can pull it off. We have the courage to do so.
But we all have to hold ourselves to higher standards...a sense that we CAN do better, and that we must.
There is nothing we cannot accomplish as a nation...
We made it this far (since 1776), and we're not ready to kick back...not yet.
Have yourselves a great week.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there.

Friday Follies...
I know those of you that read yesterday's post about khat are probably suffering from information overload (I know I was getting there just finding all those articles, which only scratched the surface), and I do apologize, but it's something you should know, especially if you're walking that thin blue line.
If it's any consolation, my post ONLY contained the "high-points"...
But there is a LOT of information out there.
So, here we are at weekend's door...at last.
And wouldn't you know it...people are finding yet another substance to abuse. (when they're not abusing themselves or one another, that is)
Now, who, in their wildest dream would want to be abusing BATH SALTS, hmm?
I mean, isn't that stuff TRADITIONALLY used as a relaxation tool...nice hot bath, fragrant salts in the water, candlelight and soft music...damn...getting drowsy thinking about it (more coffee).
Well, it MIGHT have been in days of yore, but no longer.
Here's the FOX news story link...pretty good read.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/01/24/americas-new-drug-problem-snorting-bath-salts/#
These bath salts are NOT intended to be used externally (as is touted on the packaging)...
They are to be snorted, injected, or even smoked.
The DEA hasn't found the exact origin of the substance, which produces a meth-like euphoria, often resulting in paranoia, rapid heart rates, and suicidal thoughts (and I though that came from the stop-smoking drug Chantix).
Some people have slashed their throats after snorting this crap...others checked out of life straight away.
Prices can go as high (no pun intended) as $20 for a HALF GRAM.
Sorry, but if I have to pay a good sum of money for ANYTHING in that LOW a gram count, something has GOT to be fishy (and probably illegal) there.
I like my gram count in the HUNDREDS (like a box of Froot Loops).
The main ingredient in these "salts" is called MEPHEDRONE, or MDPV, and is being sold at convenience stores and tobacco shops.
Another ploy is to package it as "plant food"...(called Meow Meow in the UK)
(*ahem*)
Well, THAT ought to get those frigging peppers up and sprouting EARLY, huh?
The scary thing is that a 12-year old can go into a Sparky-Mart and buy a packet of this crap.
States that have already BANNED such substances, have seen marked drops in usage and calls to the poisons centers.
Indiana has yet to ban this, however.
God, sometimes I wonder how the human race got THIS far.
I mean, when it comes down to "if you make it, they will snort it"...(regardless of what that "it" IS) things are getting a bit TOO strange.
And "strange" should never have be SOP for anyone's life...we've way too much other (important) stuff to concern ourselves with, right?
Kinda makes you wish it were the good old days, when sniffing model glue in a paper bag was in vogue.
It's like some people NEED this "diversion" from the hum-drum of life.
And I have to ask WHY?
Are these people THAT f$cked up (pardon my French) that they need this constant chemical infusion of Christ-knows-what into their system to see if they can "push the envelope" of existence?
Want a real thrill?
Try jumping out of a perfectly good airplane with a parachute YOU packed (and hopefully you got right)...!
I'm just sayin'...
I told the Missus that I was thinking of starting a rumor that it was a REALLY good high to snort Comet cleanser (laced with Country Time Lemonade)...
See how long before THAT recipe goes viral.
Or why not just melt down some DRANO crystals and inject that into your vein...and count the minutes (of life) you have left.
Where the hell does such madness end?
And why bother doing this in the first damn place?
Is this ENTIRE planet and it's EIGHT BILLION SOULS not "enough"?
Does all of that suck THAT bad?
Cripes, even *I* can find some solace down here in the Badlands...
There's nature...and music...hobbies...books...it's all around you.
All YOU have to do is avail yourself of it.
Doesn't seem that difficult a premise, does it?
We're also seeing a new type of *E* on the streets...with METH added to it. It can also now be had in LIQUID form (if you really hate taking pills).
And many cities are seeing a resurgence in HEROIN distribution and use, which fell out of "favor" a few decades ago for all this "better" sh*t.
But the largest problem that law-enforcement faces is the detection of these NEW items, like SPICE, these "plant foods" and "bath salts".
Hardly ANY of these items are regulated, and many agencies don't even know the ingredients in them. Poison control centers are still figuring it all out.
Many of the chemicals used in the production of such items are still legal.
So the DEA (and other agencies) are constantly playing CATCH-UP, instead of being a few steps AHEAD of the chase here.
Not the BEST way to prevent such crime...just the ONLY way for the moment.
Have we devolved THAT much (as a society) where we NEED to "dose" ourselves constantly, because life got rough?
Well, it HAS been said that one way to CONTROL a population is to make them "pliable"...able to be swayed to whatever agenda comes down the pike.
And drugs (prescription or otherwise) are a GREAT way to make that happen.
It can be as overt as street-level dealing...OR, it can be as insidious as bath salts or plant food.
If someone really wanted to do population control in a wholesale manner, all you have to do is tamper with the water supply.
Hell, years ago, Perrier got a black eye when it was discovered that BENZENE was in their bottled water.
And we use that chemical in a LOT of stuff, including the manufacture of...(all together now)... DRUGS.
There are a plethora of really covert methods to create a controlled environment through chemistry.
Let's hope we never see ANY of them.
*** Elsewhere...
Oh, yes...food prices ARE rising...right in step with the OIL prices.
Overall, world food prices rose 2.2% recently, and that's a decent jump.
(hope the crops hold out)
Seems like while "Rome" burns...Nero fiddles.
And since this nation is following a LOT of the things that caused the Roman Empire to collapse, I'm sure you can see the analogy here.
FACT - This nation is not drilling for more oil, and even if all the moratoriums were lifted NOW, we'd need some time to get up to speed and become productive enough, so that we wouldn't see pump prices rising further.
FACT - This nation is not pursuing oil from SHALE.
FACT - No new nuclear plants...yet, and the ones we have will soon reach their de-commission dates...THEN what?
FACT - Wind power will be a huge rip-off...Mother nature DOES have a dog in THIS hunt.
FACT - Cleaner coal DOES exist...we're just not forcing the issue.
But we DO have the solar issue...as long as the sun shines. (and not from out of some politician's ass)
Still hearing crickets on the "water-powered" engine from that Purdue professor (several years after), and not much of anything on the HYDROGEN realm (still got plenty of hydrogen around, last time I checked).
I know...all this is overwhelming.
Hell, we all are being yanked several ways from Sunday (and not in that GOOD way).
Our attention is being drawn SO thin in so many areas, that we're often losing focus on the here and now in front of us.
It's drugs...or food...or oil...or war...or crime...or the kids, the bills, the mortgage, the repairs, our health...you name it, and it's THERE.
I've said here so often, that every one of us is guilty of trying to do TOO much.
We simply cannot do IT ALL...BUT...we CAN do something.
And if we take all those individual "somethings" and add them all up...THEN, it gets pretty intense (and that IS in a good way).
THEN, we get things done, but not before.
In life we discover our strengths as well as our weaknesses (if we've been paying attention, that is).
Shall we allow the powers that be to play upon our weaknesses?
Or will WE (instead) utilize our STRENGTHS in order to maintain our nation and our way (and quality) of life?
I think you all know the answer to that one...right?
And I also think you will do what you need to in order to avoid failure, because it's no longer an option.
Take some time to think on this...and take time to enjoy life just a little bit more.
Have yourselves a fantastic weekend.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and as always...
Stay safe out there, America.

Believe It...Or ELSE...
We've got a LOT of ground to cover today, so before we commence to getting into "quick-step", I wanted to mention this:
On yesterday's post, I talked about WHAT TO DO when (or if) your car encounters HIGH WATER (the best solution is to AVOID IT), and I talked about having a punch-tool for the windows, etc.
Well, GUESS what was featured on the 5 & 6 o'clock news (WANE-they have a video of the story) here in Fort Wayne?
If you said "What to do if your car is submerged in high water"...go to the head of the class, kids!
(and give yourself a GOLD star!)
I was AMAZED.
(and thank you, Alyssa)
Nice to know that there are OTHERS out there that peruse this blog, even IF they never comment...LOL.
Okay then...on to the GOOD stuff, and trust me, THIS will open your eyes.
*** My late father served in the USAAF in India during WW II...and he saw his share of oddities.
One thing he talked about that I will NEVER forget were the native Gurkha "soldiers" that protected the small airstrip we held there (Barrackpore).
Dad told me they'd sit outside the barracks all day, sharpening their Kukris...a curved blade...like a bent machete.
At night, these men would go into the jungles surrounding the airstrip and hunt for Japanese (like game).
They wore scalps on their sashes or collected teeth...sounds a bit MUCH, but that's what they did...as a symbol of "victory".
(To each his own, I guess. Everyone SHOULD have a hobby.)
But Dad also told me they used to chew on a native plant...called KHAT.
(pronounced 'cot')
I suppose they didn't like Wrigley's spearmint all that much from our troops.
Whatever the case, it was this plant that imbued these Gurkhas with an "unusual" demeanor...Dad always said they just smiled if you asked them anything...spoke little English (if any). But they DID love to sharpen their weapon. So, I grew up knowing what KHAT was, thanks to WW2 tales from my Dad...amazing how you always remember some things.
Now, I provided this prologue to ease you into the "rest of the story"...
I saw this on a local news site...not that large an article, but you can imagine how it "peaked my interest":
(( WOWO - 2 MARCH 2011
Indiana police have a new drug on their radar.
It's an African plant called "Khat" and causes a high similar to meth along with hallucinations when it's chewed.
The FBI made a recent Khat smuggling bust in Indianapolis leading to the arrest of 13 people. ))
(*AHEM*)
That was the ENTIRE article...period !
SO, being the "junkyard mutt" I am, I decided to NOT let go on this one, but rather dig a little deeper and see what I find.
I sure wasn't disappointed.
Here is the WIKI on KHAT...this link provides a LOT more than you need to know:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khat
Just some highlights:
-- Khat contains the alkaloid called cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite, and euphoria. In 1980, the World Health Organization classified khat as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence (less than tobacco or alcohol). The plant has been targeted by anti-drug organizations like the DEA. It is a controlled or illegal substance in many countries, but is legal for sale and production in many others.
-- The ancient Egyptians considered the khat plant a "divine food" which was capable of releasing humanity's divinity. The Egyptians used the plant for more than its stimulating effects; they used it as a metamorphic process and transcended into "apotheosis", intending to make the user god-like.
-- Due to the availability of rapid, inexpensive air transportation, the plant has been reported in England, Wales, Rome, Amsterdam, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The international community has become more aware of this plant through media reports pertaining to the United Nations mission in Somalia (where khat use is widespread), as well as through its role in the Persian Gulf.
-- It is mainly a recreational drug in the countries which grow khat, though it may also be used by farmers and laborers for reducing physical fatigue or hunger, and by drivers and students for improving attention.
-- Khat is so popular in Yemen that its cultivation consumes much of the country's agricultural resources.
It is estimated that 40% of the country's water supply goes towards irrigating it, with production increasing by about 10% to 15% every year.
-- Khat consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement. A meta-analysis in The Lancet has stated that khat creates a pleasuring effect to the same degree as ecstasy. Individuals become very talkative under the influence of the drug and may appear to be unrealistic and emotionally unstable.
-- The use of khat results in constipation. Dilated pupils (mydriasis) are prominent during khat consumption, reflecting the sympathomimetic effects of the drug, which are also reflected in increased heart rate and blood pressure. A state of drowsy hallucinations (hypnagogic hallucinations) may result when coming down from khat use, as well.
-- Withdrawal symptoms that may follow occasional use include mild depression and irritability. Withdrawal symptoms that may follow prolonged khat use include lethargy, mild depression, nightmares, and slight tremor. Khat is an effective anorectic (causes loss of appetite). Long-term use can precipitate the following effects: negative impact on liver function, permanent tooth darkening (of a greenish tinge), susceptibility to ulcers, and diminished sex drive.
-- Regular khat use compromises the ability to inhibit undesirable behavior. Frequent use has been shown to decrease self-control.
-- In the United States, cathine is a Schedule IV controlled substance and cathinone is a Schedule I drug, according to the U.S. Controlled Substance Act. The 1993 DEA rule placing cathinone in Schedule I noted that it was effectively also banning khat.
-- Cathinone is the major psychoactive component of the plant Catha edulis (khat). The young leaves of khat are chewed for a stimulant effect. Enactment of this rule results in the placement of any material which contains cathinone into Schedule I.
-- Khat has been seized by local police and federal authorities on several occasions. The plant itself is specifically banned in Missouri.
Well, GOOD for Missouri.
Here we though that something like SPICE or K2 was bad for 'ya...
Which brings us to the center of this shrubbery-maze.
WHY are Indiana police only NOW noticing this plant???
(I think this qualifies as one of those "WTF?" moments)
I mean, it's not a "new" plant...hell, the EGYPTIANS used the damn thing...!
And it's ALL OVER the Middle east, right?
I'd bet that Iraq War vets know about it, and if not, they SHOULD.
Apparently, this drug/plant has been making it's way into the US for some time...and NOT just recently.
Here's a link to the DEA, dating back to 2006:
http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr072606.html
This is a GREAT read, especially when you see the AMOUNTS of Khat involved.
I'm familiar with the OCDETF (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force)..nice group of folks.
But we're not finished yet...
Let's set our WAY-BACK machine before that story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/extra/series-1/smuggling_drugs_khat.shtml
The above article dates to 2004!
Here's a story from UTAH going back to 2007:
http://www.drug-addiction.com/khat_addiction.htm
And this gem from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR):
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/khat.asp
Wow, khat is used during RAMADAN...I wouldn't have guessed.
Here's a link to ISLAM IN EUROPE blog (another must see article):
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/02/europe-khat-smuggling-finances-al.html
Nice to know that ALL "proceeds" from the sale of Khat go into funding al-Shabaab, also known as the Mujahideen Youth Movement.
(who knew?)
Here's the WIKI on those folks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab
Now WHO would have guessed that the USofA had such radical Islamists in it's midst?
And here's the link to the most recent story out of Indianapolis:
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/26970768/detail.html
The title says it all -
Feds Uncover Sophisticated Drug Smuggling Ring - Drug Travels From Africa To Indianapolis In 48 Hours
This article appeared back on 28 February 2011.
Nice to know that the USPS, FED-EX and UPS all have job security...
Still, it makes you wonder WHY it's taken SO long for this to be discovered in Indiana?
Granted the brief "shelf-life" of Khat's potency comes into play.
Dried khat ain't as good as FRESH khat.
It also makes you wonder about the Burmese population, and last year's flap (in Fort Wayne) over a Burmese patron spitting on the floor of a store, with the owner placing signage that he didn't want such people in his store.
Wonder if the Burmese were chewing KHAT (because like chewing tobacco, you DO spit the saliva out).
I'm just sayin'...
Now, we'll probably see more stories that reflect this trend of drug abuse...hopefully.
While this will no doubt be considered as "harmless" as other substances (some will erroneously equate this to caffeine), it does induce or produce hallucinogenic effects, and not everyone REACTS the same way to that...do they?
I felt the need to share this, because of the ties to the Middle East, terrorism funding, and how these are all pieces to the much larger puzzle.
Well, now we have a few MORE of those pieces, and we can see the puzzle a bit better now.
Still, vigilance and awareness need to be our beacons these days.
We're being assaulted from all sides, and it gets difficult to fully protect ourselves.
But I feel that we're on the right track, even if we're moving at a snail's pace.
At least we're moving, and MOVEMENT IS LIFE.
Always question things that need or otherwise demand questioning...take nothing at face-value.


Find out for yourself.
The truth will always guide your path.
And your faith will light it.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay safe out there, America.

Humpday Happenings...
Where's all the snow?
And why is the river rising, mama?
I'm sure a lot of people are worried around the area with the sudden THAW.
Portland, Indiana is drying out from their flooding (considered by many to be the worst ever recalled).
Roads are becoming passable again, and one woman is lucky to be alive when she attempted (rather unsuccessfully) to navigate some deep water.
*** Lemme let 'ya in on something....high water LOVES to win.
The house is stacked against you...period.
It's a fact of life.
In a one-on-one with high water, you'd best back off and cut your losses before those losses extend to your LIFE and others.
Mother Nature has at her disposal an arsenal of items designed to either SAVE you or KILL you, depending on how you decide to look at it.
Deep water (from a swollen river) is a damn GOOD way to get peoples' attention.
And THAT is why local law enforcement put up those nifty BARRICADES (some even with flashing lights...oooooooo).
It's there to WARN you..to KEEP you from doing something REALLY dumb...like trying to drive THROUGH it.
Some people never learn, and that's why they have near-death experiences (when they don't die outright).
Here's the link to this tale with a fortunate and happy ending:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/woman-rescued-from-submerged-car
A few "tips" if you will from someone who's been pretty good at "surviving" both in times past as well as now (in the ghettohood).
If you have a car with electric door locks and windows, they may OR MAY NOT work when you "take the plunge".
Depends on the electrical system, battery, and insulation of the wiring.
A failure on ANY of these will negate operation.
You can't simply manually unlock the door and exit the vehicle...water pressure prevents that from happening.
You have to WAIT until the car fills up and equalizes the pressure INSIDE the vehicle...THEN you can open the door and exit to the surface.
I know that "waiting to drown" doesn't seem that all appealing, but trust me, you have enough of time to oxygenate your lungs by deep breathing before the car fills completely.
Carrying a "punch-tool" in the car is good, and allows you to smash the side glass, but remember that water will not wait OUTSIDE until you exit, so you'll have to fight water rushing INSIDE, got it?
Above all...(and I know this sounds impossible)...REMAIN CALM...and REMAIN ALIVE.
Now, if the water isn't that high, but ONLY comes halfway up to your wheels, there's some things you NEED to know.
First, the car MAY stall, depending on if the tailpipe is under water, or if something electrical shorts out...be prepared for that.
Next, if you do make it through and are still running, when you go to hit the brakes, you will probably find they don't work that well...
DO NOT PANIC.
This is normal. When brakes get wet, they loose the friction needed to bring the vehicle to a stop.
The BEST way to get your brakes working again quickly, is to lightly DRAG the brakes...hold your foot ON the pedal gently, just enough to feel the vehicle want to stop, but also keep your foot on the gas pedal to maintain a speed of under 25 MPH (tops).
Within a block, the vehicle will stop as good as before..trust me, I've done it many times...and it WORKS!
*** This story got my attention too, but not because of the usual reasons.
(( Attempted traffic stop leads to pursuit and crash - Police find crack cocaine and marijuana in car
Updated: Tuesday, 01 Mar 2011, 5:49 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 01 Mar 2011, 12:04 PM EST
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Fort Wayne police tried to pull over a motorist for speeding Tuesday morning. When the motorist wouldn't stop, officers pursued the vehicle for about five minutes before it crashed near the intersection of St. Joe Center Road and Salge Drive.
The driver lost control, the car hit a culvert and landed on its top. The driver then took off on foot and police caught him between some homes in a nearby neighborhood.
Police say the car didn't have a license plate and when they searched inside they found 1.3 grams of marijuana, approximately 22.5 grams of crack cocaine, and over $800.00 cash.
A warrant had been issued for the driver prior to this incident for possession of a dangerous drug according to Officer Scott Tegtmeyer.
The driver was taken to an area hospital in serious condition. His identity has not yet been released. ))
This story caught my eye because the vehicle involved is about the SAME YEAR as the Wifeymobile (actually a year earlier...around 1995). It's a Caprice Classic, and I can tell you it's not a bad driver, as 4 door full-size sedans go (and that's coming from a confirmed 2-seat coupe driving kinda guy)!
They DO look much better with the TIRES on the ground, rather than the roof, though.
This perp had to be pulling a decent speed to FLIP a car that size (they were more aerodynamic than previous models from the 80s).
Here's a hint: When attempting to AVOID the police in a pursuit...DON'T!
I do tend to notice cars that look like the Wifeymobile...call it prior "training".
Ditto for MY Firebird, too. (simply because it's MORE rare to see a car like MINE, especially in AS GOOD A SHAPE as mine, given it's age)
I always suspect these perps are "cruising for parts".
(Yeah, I'm SUCH a cynic)
I can already tell you that in OUR part of the ghettohood, we have about FIVE of those mid-nineties Caprice Classics tooling about. (excluding Mrs. Bobby G.)

We have a white one, a black one, a gold one , another that is the mirror image of Wifey's car (that's kinda creepy), and a dark RED one that I saw for the first time JUST this past Sunday, heading N/B on our street (oh, he was speeding, too...FWPD, take note).
And when I saw the car on the news, that's when it all clicked...
THAT was the same car I saw Sunday...!!!
What drew my attention to THIS caprice (on Sunday) was that he was thumping his stereo (typical)...that ALWAYS gets my attention.
(not a good thing for the loud asses - they really DON'T want me to notice them).
Imagine that.
A guy with DRUGS in the car...an active *14* (warrant - that makes ONE down, with ONLY 6,924 MORE to go) and "NO TAGS" that passed through MY (drug-infested) area a couple days ago....what ARE the chances, huh?

(betcha he had a gun too...and they're just not saying THAT)
Well, that's ONE druggie off MY streets for a while.
And one LESS Caprice to monitor.
Amazing that the FWPD has NOT released the name of the perp..stay tuned for updates on this one.
I plan to hang onto this story like a junkyard mutt on a trespasser's leg.
Anything that will garner me more "intel" regarding MY ghettohood is always welcome.
I like to "know the playaz", as it were.
Our area is one of those "unique" places....we're the "buffer zone" between TWO other sectors for the FWPD.
We are the "Nora" area of sector 45, the area directly NORTH of us is called "Mary", and the one directly SOUTH of us is called "Ocean"...neat, huh?
We get all the traffic that runs BETWEEN those other two areas (lucky us), and the crime tends to be in flux, flowing from one of these three areas into another and then back again...hard to the police to keep track of and get a handle on (maybe that's why they're always busy chasing the radio, instead of being able to PATROL and head this crap off at the pass).
In any event, we're sure to only see MORE of the same down here this summer (each one gets a little worse than the last).
But remember, it's all BY DESIGN. The city must WANT this to happen for a reason...and we all know the end to that reasoning.
(scroll down for those pictures of DETROIT if you want a reminder)
It shouldn't have to be this way...but it is.
And we can thank entitlements for all of it.
Somehow, the meaning of PROGRESS isn't all cracked up to what it used to be...at least not in the societal realm.
I could be wrong, but we both realize that's folly to even consider that.
We know the truth.

And we shall speak the truth.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

((Tomorrow: An "old" drug is NEW again))