Monday Musings...

Well, it's the beginning of the week, AND the end of the month...pretty decent way to get things started, hmm?

Had some rain today, and we can use some, so no complaints there...

The garden is slowly coming alive again, and we get to see what survived the winter and what "new" items are going to grace us.

The columbines are interesting, because their seeds are smaller than poppy seeds, and tend to spread about nicely and reseed next year.

And we've already seen some of those small white cabbage butterflies around.
What amazes me, is that with little and sometimes NO help, garden plants will take care of themselves.
It's not that such plants RELY on Wifey and I to assist them through their lives, and yet we do intervene from time to time, weeding the areas, providing water in dry spells, and adding fertilizer when required...but other than that, we're not "taking them by the leaf" through life.
I think you're following this analogy I'm talking about.
*** We (mankind) are so much more "evolved" than the plant species (I'm not including some locals for various reasons here...lol), and yet we will go to great lengths to choose to be "taken care of" in life, and our government is only TOO helpful in that regard...but everything in life DOES have it's price.
Now back in the garden, the price WE outlay for items that keep the garden looking nice are very small in comparison to the "rewards" we receive.
The PAYBACK is worth it.

With people, we don't see that much payback for ALL the money that's been tossed at all the various programs which were initially designed to help, but winds up hindering in other ways and costing more than intended.
Funny thing, when a lot more of us were a lot more self-reliant, we managed to do okay.
Whenever we depended upon our OWN selves, we got whatever job done that needed it.
American history is filled with such accounts of people great and small that have followed such principles.
And, there is also a nice "side-effect" to being self-reliant...it places us in a much better position to help ONE ANOTHER.
Again, history is replete with those examples as well.
But those were days when government knew it's place, which was not in the individual lives of it's citizens.
Our government (then) was concerned more with such things as THESE:

-- Forming a more perfect UNION.

-- Establishing JUSTICE (for all, BTW).
-- Insuring DOMESTIC tranquility.
-- Providing for the common DEFENSE.
-- Promoting the GENERAL welfare (and not a welfare-state)
-- Securing the BLESSINGS of LIBERTY to OURSELVES and our POSTERITY.
Now, if all this sounds just a wee bit familiar...it SHOULD.
It's most of the PREAMBLE to our very own CONSTITUTION.
You can plainly see WHERE the governmental intentions USED to be, and you can also note that much of this can be said to religious undertones (specially the "blessings" part).
This fledgling nation has been evolving since those words were put to parchment, but has it been following the tenets of those words, and if so, to what degree or end?
Like a small child in an unfamiliar area, we've seemed to have lost our way.

We've lost that "self-reliance" I mentioned earlier, and supplanted it with (obscenely expensive) governmental intrusion through over-regulations, insipid laws, morbidly-outlandish proposals, and insanely out-of-control spending.

I'm sorry, but if a person (or persons) were to manage a business or a family in such a manner...neither would exist, and in a very short time.
It's often been said that you can certainly spend your way INTO debt, but you can never spend your way OUT of debt.
Careful management of funds, resources, and savings is what makes a successful business, household, garden...or government.
And these days, we're just not seeing too much of that...are we?
Now, in our garden, I consider every plant we've put in the ground an ASSET...it's in the "plus column". (remember THAT from last week?)
Weeds and other invasive plants (along with some bugs) are a LIABILITY...follow me so far?
Debt is also a liability when held for a long-term basis (with no way of reasonably being able to pay it off), but can be an asset in the short-term (when paid off timely it can actually help with credit ratings).

People have allowed THIS nation to become a debtor nation, and with no foreseeable way of paying it down to the extent where it's able to eventually be PAID OFF... that's not a really good thing.
It's like the weeds have taken over the garden, and have grown 10 feet tall...( talk about a "Little Shop Of Horrors"...)LOL.
Ain't gonna be able to take THOSE buggers down with that electric string-trimmer...are you?
Gonna need to do some SERIOUS defoliating...
Same needs to be said with today's economy, and basically our overall outlook.
We need for the government to get back to governing...the COUNTRY, and not our lives.

And WE need to get back a lot of that good old self-reliance we USED to have...what our parents and grandparents had.
That managed to see them through some VERY rough times, otherwise none of us would even BE here, right?
Like so many things in life, it does boil down to the BASICS.
You build upon THOSE things, and the rest will come together.
But, if you forego such things, and decide otherwise, you are just ASKING for disaster.
And none of us likes to have that happen...
Life is not meant to be easy, but WE can iron out a lot of the rough spots, if we so choose.
We can lessen the bumps we'll encounter, and still come out the other side only wiser for it.
We CAN develop, nurture and encourage the American Spirit...the way we used to do.

Yeah, it's amazing how life can teach you things...when you're up your elbows in dirt, manure and seedlings.

And the best part, is that the "instruction" only costs you the time to think on it...

Have a fantastic week.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay SAFE out there, America.

Friday Follies...

Welcome to...THE WEEKEND!

This month is flying right past, isn't it?

And here in the Heartland, we've another chilly morning, with temps starting out in the lower 30s!

But hey, there's nothing wrong with having the brisk morning air put a bit of a spring in your step, considering the "season", right?

So, let's take a look at what's been going on while we slept...
((--But first, I am NOT responsible for any "layout" changes to my blog...it's ANOTHER BLOGGER BUG, and I sent them a "feedback" as to the problem. The template looks to be identical as the copy I D/Led last year, so I sure as hell didn't change anyuthing.))

*** There are literally THOUSANDS of ways to die, some natural...some, not so much.

Here's an example of what can happen when you're drving a compact car and decide to run a light.

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Two-Die-in-Fatal-Crash-with-Garbage-Truck-in-Huntington-149039345.html

The car in the story USED to be a Dodge Neon.

I'll bet that whatever the destination of the two deceased occupants of that Neon was, it didn't include a rather LENGHTY (read permanent) sidetrip to the NEXT life.

Lesson to be learned here?

Whenever you're driving (especially in some econobox lightweight), anything BIGGER than you on the road WILL leave a mark, should you meet.

And, by all means, PAY THE HELL ATTENTION!!!

*** And in a somewhat morbidly related story...

Fort Wayne's very own Glenbrook Mall has a new store (to fill the increasing number of vacancies within the property), and it's probably one of the LAST stores you'd think of...or need in THIS life.

It's a...CASKET STORE!

((..."WTF???"...))

Well, they do sell OTHER funerary stuff, but IF you want a casket shaped like a chopped '49 Merc, THIS IS the place for you!

Here's the story link:

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Glenbrooks-Latest-Store-to-Offer-Caskets-and-Funeral-Urns-148934635.html

Somehow, I don't think they would carry a coffin shaped like a Dodge Neon...I'm just sayin'...

But, how about a Star Trek photon torpedo casing (like they put Spock in at the end of ST2 - TWOK)?

Now THAT is the ultimate in geek-chic.

The name of the store is "Til We Meet Again"...how quaint..

Just the place to purchase that URN to keep Uncle Charlie's ashes in...instead of that Yuban coffee can.

*** And then, there's THIS...

What is one to do when a WIND TURBINE breaks it's blades and sheds parts into the cornfields below?

Here's the lowdown...

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Wind-Turbines-Damaged-in-Ohio-148816585.html

I find it funny that this turbine COULD have been damaged by...(wait for it)...HIGH WINDS.

(oh, the IRONY)

The company (Vestas) that makes the blades says the damaged unit is STILL under warranty (well, that's a good thing).

And they have their OWN WIKI:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestas

The manner that the blades shed their "skin" reminds me of layers of carbon fiber or fiberglass.

I read somewhere where these 122 ft. blades were manufactured in somwhere OTHER than in America.

(well, it IS a DANISH company...I could use a danish now to go with my coffee...cream cheese danish)

Moving on...

*** Another holdup in Ft. Wayne, proving that crime DOES pay (again).

This one took place at a Rally's restaurant at 4810 Coldwater rd. around 2340 hrs. Tuesday.

Here's the link:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120427/LOCAL07/304279928/1002/LOCAL

No weapon or injuries were reported in the report.

An undisclosed amount of money was taken.

See what you can do whenever you walk into a place (here) and yell "Get on the ground"?

You can have an early "pay-day".

*** Another robbery took place at a Kroger store on W. State Blvd around 2100 hrs last evening.

Here's this link:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/west-state-kroger-robbed-at-gunpoint

At least THIS time, the perp HAD a black, semi-auto handgun (probably an airsoft w/ the red tip cut off)

Still coulda been a real one...the getaway vehicle was a sliver Chevy Cruz, so someone has enough cash for a new car.

(and now, they have even MORE cash)

A description of the robber is at the link, but suffice it to say, they pretty much ALL follow the same "dress code". So, if anyone comes into YOUR place of business or the store you're shopping in, wearing all black, and has a mask over their face, it could be a good bet that they're there to ROB the joint.

*** How do you keep a 4 year old from getting between you and another during an argument in Fort Wayne?

Simple, throw a Channel-Lock adjustable WRENCH in the direction of his niece, striking her in the skull.

Here's this sad story about stupidity gone rampant.

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120427/LOCAL07/304279886

Now, the girl is alive, but suffered a fractured skull, and had to have major surgery to repair the damage, and she had to be put on a ventilator when one of her lungs collapsed.

In the aftermath, doctors induced a coma, and had to remove part of her brain the size of an egg (and for a 4 year old, that's fairly substantial).

Jeremiah D. Jones, 34, the man who threw the wrench (at his son supposedly - BACK IN FEBRUARY!!!), has finally been charged...but NOT YET arrested...(okay, why the f$ck NOT?).

And wouldn't you just KNOW it...he's BLACK - 6'3', 200 lbs. Wow couldn't have seen THAT one coming.

What is it with such animalistic bevahior that escalates from a simple difference of opinion, anyway?

He's only got a couple misdemeanor priors in the system since 1998...but NOT ANYMORE!

*** Next, a story about a man, an island, and a dream:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/brendon-grimshaw-britains_n_1456365.html?ref=good-news&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D155704

Now, I don't know about you, but I find this a bit fascinating, considering the lack of "amenities".

Still, after 39 years, this man has made the island into a huge preserve, complete with tortoises and mahogany trees.

Love to see what his house looks like.

The island is located in the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean (wonder if they get FOX news THERE?)

Gonna need one HELLUVA high antenna.

The short video is worth a watch.

Brendon Grimshaw is one remarkable person, and one that has a lot more love of solitude than I would prefer.

But, he DOES have a really COOL island all to himself.
Try and top THAT.

*** And a hearty CONGRATS to the Ft. Wayne Komets for beating the Mavericks in game 7 of theor semi-final playoff series.

Reminded me of the old "Broad St. Bullies" days of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Nice end to a real nail-biter.

On to Witchita, now.

*** Lastly today, we see the highs and the lows that mankind aspires to.

And each of us has in some microcosmic way, similar circumstances, none of which (hopefully) leads us down the path to incarceration or otherwise illegal activities.

Every day is never just like the other, in spite of repetitiveness on the parts of others or us.

Each day is a NEW chance...a new opportunity...for whatever we have in mind.

Maybe none of us can buy some island, but we CAN do something, however small to affect some good type of change...the LASTING kind of change.

Perhaps we can plant ONE small tree...or some flowers...or do a good turn for another person for no reason other than we CAN do it.

You take all these small things...add them up over time, and you got something pretty damn BIG going on...a GOOD thing.

And Lord knows we can ALL use a bit more of that in today's world.

(Hmm...makes me wonder if they could turn my '83 Firebird into a casket...hmm....and I still want a cheese danish for my coffee)

Have yourselves a fantastic weekend.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...

Stay SAFE out there, America.



A Thinker's Thursday...

Today, I want to take a look at some things designed solely for the purpose of making us THINK...

So, get ready to put your "cap" on (as we used to hear growing up), and first up, as promised, the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT quote:

"The incompetence of the authorities and of G.H.Q. is greater on the other side than with us, and that is saying a good deal."

This was attributed to General Max Hoffman, November 1915, War Diaries and Other Papers 1, 1929.

You remember our buddy Max, right?

Just in case, here's his WIKI:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Hoffmann

Yeah, he was the strategist who basically thought the OTHER generals weren't worth the air they breathed. I liken him to the Patton (without the armor) of the "other" side during WW1.

(Ohhhh...THAT Max Hoffman)

Meanwhile, back at the Siegfried Line...

*** Yes, I'm STILL hating BLOGGER, but I did make a little headway. I have to import what I type on the thumb-drive to one system, and then choose what PHOTOS I want and add them separately...no more ONE computer doing everything...how "quaint".

The photos are REALLY touchy when trying to add them and move them around, and the sizing sucks - ONLY 3 choices? Gimme a break!
I guess Blogger is STILL ironing out all the bugs they have in their "bait shop"...lol

I changed our Internet Explorer to version 8, and that at least allows me to work with my blog WITHOUT having to use GOOGLE (which actually asked me in a pop-up if they could TRACK my visits)...what did I tell you?

Naturally, I clicked the NO button...screw them AND the horse they rode in on, as far as that goes.

Personally, Blogger HAD a real good thing going...and I'm FAR from the ONLY person that noticed this.

The forums (closest thing to a REAL help desk Blogger has) was FULL of folks miffed out the ass over this "change".

I sent along MY feedback (laced with lots of "longshoreman language", if you get my drift) in case they were curious.

I would wager they are curious no longer.

Many folks were PO'ed because the APPS for their smart phones were not compatible with this "upgrade", too.

(that ALONE should prompt a return to some earlier version that was more user-friendly)

It's like this...when I get a CAR, I EXPECT A CAR...not a damn computer lab.

When I get a PHONE, I EXPECT A DAMN PHONE, and not a freaking handheld computer (that's what desktops and laptops are for anyway)

When I purchase a TV, I EXPECT A TV, and not some interface with the Internet (that's what a MONITOR is for)

I'm a BASIC kinda guy, and I prefer things BASIC..as in EASY to figure the hell out.

Life is PLENTY COMPLEX as it IS, without having to fret over every damn thing we own, use, drive, or communicate on, kapeesh?

Moving on...

*** I heard on the police radio about some guy swerving ALL over the road (up north someplace - didn't catch the *20*), and I thought to myself:

"Self, isn't it a little TOO damn early to be THAT IMPAIRED?"

Apparently NOT in this city!

Situations abound when it comes to impaired drivers...look at that crash yesterday morning at Paulding and Hanna on the...(all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST side of town.

And they say the NEW YORK is "The city that never sleeps"...pshaw!

*** Here's a loaded question:

What ever happened to ETHICAL BEHAVIOR and PROFESSIONALISM?

When did that seem to "go away" and why did it ever have to?

Check the news most ANY day (these days), and you will find something that causes you to wonder exactly that.

Take this ACSD officer (Sgt, actually - was caught and charged with stealing tools), for example, like in THIS story:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120426/LOCAL03/304269982

At least he DID man up (after he was caught) and confessed to the theft, but c'mon now...isn't it the fact that you wear that shield FOR A REASON kinda trump stupid?

No one is perfect, but there SHOULD be a level of professional and ethical BEHAVIOR attached to such a position...right?

Besides, you make enough scratch as an officer to PURCHASE tools without the need to "borrow" them (on a long-term basis, as we used to call theft), unless you get in debt over your head, bu that's another story.

He was close to retiring, and now, it's all gone to hell, hasn't it?

We hear about improprieties between teachers and students...too many to make me feel comfortable.

And forget ALL the crap we hear about POLITICIANS...the "CIVIL SERVANTS" of the masses...they're just out-of-control, period.

I miss the days when a person's WORD was their bond, and they always STRIVED to do what was right and just.

That is what made this nation great, and the LACK of such things will undoubtedly bring us down.

*** Lastly today, life is often like a PLUS-MINUS column...think about it.

We'd LIKE to have everything on the PLUS side, but such is not always the case.

We take the good WITH the bad...we make lemonade when given life's lemons, and we dig deep inside ourselves and dredge up the fortitude we often need to get us by JUST for today...yeah, it's a struggle at times.

Some days, we wake up with a lot more MINUS than Plus in "our tank", and long to change it around.

But doing nothing will never accomplish that...that's for certain.

Doing SOMETHING...ANYTHING (within the confines of legality) that will affect that column in OUR favor is what we need to be aware of.

Every day we draw a breath should be like that...

We can't change the world, or even our city most times, and definitely NOT in a day, week, or perhaps year, but we CAN change the way WE live...the way WE view life, and the way WE embrace it and attempt to change the way that plus--minus column looks..

And THAT is something to think about...don'cha think?

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay SAFE out there, America.

Humpday Happenings...
Welcome to the middle of the week edition, and we've got some interesting stuff to take in today.
Weather wise, it's not bad outside - highs today in the mid to upper 60s with a chance of rain in the late afternoon.
We'll jump right into today's "quagmire" of queries and qualms in a moment...but first, it's time to take a stab at our military quote of the week, otherwise known as WHO SAID THAT?
"The incompetence of the authorities and of G.H.Q. is greater on the other side than with us, and that is saying a good deal."
SO...who said that, anyway?
Answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at the pillbox...
*** Those of you on BLOGGER have noticed that the "format" is going to change...whether WE like it or not.
I've tried it...it SUCKS BIG TIME!!!
Just TRY to add pictures, size them individually, and then move them around the blog post...can't find a way to do it!


I went back to the old format, which they changed to the new one anyway, so we're ALL saddled with this "new" crap.
It's just another way to over complicate the basic, and provide us with something "better"...yeah, right.
The LAST time they mucked about, I had all sorts of problems, as did more than a few others.
If something WORKS...you just don't up and SCREW with over, unless you're BLOGGER...that much I've learned.
Apparently, IE is NOT the browser that BLOGSPOT will function under...it's GOOGLE CHROME.
I don't trust GOOGLE at all...they like to embed your software with Lord knows what (so they can track where you go).
They SAY it's for marketing...bullsh*t.
Now, I don't plan to quit blogging...but I might consider hanging to ANOTHER blog server...like WORDPRESS.
It's always advisable to have "options" available, if BLOGGER gets out-of-hand.
Just so's you all know...I am NOT responsible for the "LOOK" of the blog during this interim...I HATE IT!!!
*** Next up, a wonderful hit & run accident on the...(...all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST side of Ft. Wayne.
This happened around 0315 hours at the corner of Paulding Rd. & Hanna St.
Here's the story (from WANE):
http://www.wane.com/dpp/traffic/incidents/hit-and-run-accident-brings-down-wires
Looks like THIS intersection has the potential to become the NEXT Anthony & McKinnie (and we all know the levels of crime that's gone on THERE in years past, right?). The crash snapped a utility pole and took down several wires (someone had some momentum built up),
One person remained on scene and was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The second vehicle fled and police have not located either the vehicle or the driver (or passengers) at this time. The case remains under investigation...(Gee, 'ya THINK???).
Here we are...3-freaking-AM, and people have nothing BETTER to do than drive around and smack into sh*t.
Where are the PATROLS that are supposed to make sure things like this are not supposed to occur?
And speaking of people breaking the law in the EARLY morning...
*** We've had issues with the Journal-gazette carriers ever since our one, GOOD carrier decided to hang up his paper route.
Homer Rasler was punctual, and always placed the paper ON the steps (and not in our flower beds), and he was there is ankle-deep snow.
Nothing stopped this man, and he always got a nice tip in our payments to the paper.
but this latest round of numbnuts have absolutely NO sense of ethical business practices.
One carrier had PRIORS from DUI (sure want him driving on MY streets), which explains why the paper wound up damn near anywhere BUT our steps.
This latest moolie has a problem, too.
He's a BOOMER (and not the MY baby generation kind).
Around 0504 hrs, I hear this thumping our front (I'm at the other end of the house, just got the hell up), and there the paper carrier goes, tearing down the street...could STILL hear his car at the other corner (over a hundred feet away)!
Now, the noise ordinance has a THIRTY FOOT rule...not a HUNDRED foot rule.
I'm calling the paper today to register a complaint.
Hell, we've ENOUGH of these assholes around here as it is, we certainly DO NOT NEED to be awakened by them prematurely.
We'll see how this shakes out, because I'm feeling a bit of "racial bias" on the part of this carrier (and we are the ONLY people on the whole block that DO get the morning paper).
There is something called "respecting your customers" aka the PEOPLE THAT PAY YOUR WAGES...at least, there USED to be.
*** And then, there's THIS little gem...
Fort Wayne almost made it to the top of yet ANOTHER list...the city actually came in SECOND (so close).
But, it might not be the BEST list to be on.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120425/BIZ/304259946/1031/BIZ
At FIRST glance, you might think that being at almost the TOP of the list of 146 areas throughout the ENTIRE NATION for AFFORDABLE HOUSING might really be a GOOD thing...
And then...you see WHICH area is NUMBER ONE...
DETROIT (at $62.45 per sq. ft.)!
Ft. Wayne was second with $66.03 per sq. ft.
I can hear the moaning out there from our "Fortress"...LOL
Topping out the top five were Toledo, Indianapolis, and Wichita, KS
Yep, you heard me correctly...none other than the ghetto capital of our OWN frigging nation...
You just KNOW I was wearing a CHESHIRE GRIN over this one.
Frisco was the LEAST affordable at $420.99 per sq. ft. Then again, it IS the libtard capital of the nation.
Sure, the housing is affordable HERE in Ft. Wayne....IF you don't mind living among the human refuse that HUD and the FWHA seek to place all around you, as you watch YOUR home value diminish to near non-existence.
And SURE the property taxes are lower than a snake's belly, but look at ALL you get for such prices:
Crime - Litter - Noise - Disrespect - Vandalism - (did I mention crime?) - Drug & alcohol abuse - MORE noise - (oh, and the other CRIME).
Now WHO can argue with such a wonderful "trade-off", hmm?
But wait, there's even more...
How's about those UTILITY RATE HIKES in WATER and now (perhaps) ELECTRICITY?
Whatever you SAVE on property taxes gets eaten up by the utilities...PLUS, your tax money is helping to fund ALL the transient indigents moving INTO your once nice neighborhood, turning it into some 3rd world sub-continental urban cesspool along the way.
Now, if you're also into FIREARMS, this might be the place for you...because you might have to USE them to dissuade some prowler trying to break in and steal your stuff in the early morning hours.
And then, there's always the blocked streets (double and triple parking while the moolies stop to chat each other up for a while, or all the people that were never brought up to understand what those strips of CONCRETE are along the streets with the nice CURBS attached to them (pssst...they're used for WALKING ON, you throwback aborigines, so get your asses out of the damn streets).
Yes, Fort Wayne, the SECOND most affordable place to get a house, as long as you're a dope-smoking, heroin-shooting, meth-making, rapist with domestic battery priors who can't stop robbing Walgreens for Opana, or shooting at houses because they got dissed in their last drug buy.
It makes me wonder WHY the media didn't pick up on this story (here)...maybe it was because the story was buried in the Business section of the paper, where not too many tend to go?
Fort Wayne...on the list of FAT cities...DUMB cities, and now CHEAP cities (and by the homicide rates over the years, that surely applies to LIFE itself...at least in SOME communities).
What amazes me is that Fort Wayne is ALSO on the list of "best places to raise a family"...yeah, it they're going to be CAREER CRIMINALS.
The cost of living is definitely LOWER than many other places...but so is the COST OF DYING.
Just ask ALL those at the "homicide vigil" held here:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120425/LOCAL07/304259973
Sure, there were innocents unjustly killed, but what about ALL those who were (imho) justifiably offed because they were doing something illegal?
All the witnesses who never come forward with information to help the police solve these homicides SHOULD be held over as accomplices.
APATHY is the worst trait of human nature.
To do NOTHING when something is required is the epitome of laziness.
This nation is in such a state....more and more people choose to do nothing, and the government rewards their "efforts".
I would like to see that all change...if for no other reason, than to have our parents believe that all that THEY did and sacrificed to make our lives better...were not in vain. I think that's reason enough.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay SAFE out there, America.

It Can't be ALL Bad...Can It?
I know I'm not the ONLY person that thinks about WTH is happening to our world these days...I just can't be.
Used to be you had to look far AND wide to see something that really made you glad you lived HERE...in AMERICA.
But so much of "what was out there" is now becoming entrenched right HERE...NOW.
Got a few examples of some of the "dumbassery" that's roaming about these days, and we begin with being "green", or to be more precise...EFFICIENT with the management of certain aspects of ALL our lives.
*** Remember when I posted here about the WATER RATE INCREASE of about FORTY PERCENT a few weeks back?
(refer back to archives of 11-12 January 2012...that'll refresh your memories, but not your thirst all that much)
Well, it's time ANOTHER utility to "chime in" with THEIR rate hike of about TWENTY TWO PERCENT...!
This comes to you in Indiana courtesy of I&M aka Michigan Power. (the electric company, and NOT the one they used to show on PBS)
Here's the lowdown of the latest (impending) financial gouge:
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/IM-Proposes-Raising-Rates-by-20-per-Month-148621085.html
This comes to about $20 a month based on 1000 Kwh for the average household.
In the peak usage months, that's a decent chunk of change.
Residents feel that I&M is taking advantage of their monopoly...and they would be correct (imho).
You mean to tell me that Indiana has NO real ELECTRIC UTILITY???
Okay, now THIS is a "WTF???" moment...!
What we always see with these entities is a wonderful Catch-22.
On the ONE hand, you (the consumer) are "nudged" to purchase more efficient toilets...or shower heads that use less water. In some cases, people have taken to catching RAIN WATER to use in their gardens...
You are following what "they" want...being more EFFICIENT with the use of YOUR water.
Same goes for your electricity....all these "curly fries bulbs" designed to SAVE energy, as well as these new-fangled TV sets, home appliances, and all this solar and wind crap. You "follow along" trying to do the right thing as "they" have suggested (or in the case of incandescent lightbulbs, all but demanded).
And on the other hand, how are YOU "rewarded" for being a much more effective user OF the electricity and water???
You get a HIGHER RATE (bill) every month to "cover costs".
What f$cking costs???
You have the SAME sh*t you had when you LAST raised the rates (2009 for electric and 2006 for water, if memory serves).
Naturally, the FEDS figure into all this, with ALL the regulations they push at the utility companies...and that gets passed right along to US.
Wasn't it nicer when you has smaller companies competing for your dollar, as opposed to these monolithic utility behemoths?
Well, it WAS cheaper...that much was certain.
Moving on...
*** An update to the "slugger" who put his girlfriend in hospital back on 13 April.
It's now the SEVENTH HOMICIDE of Allen County this year.
Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120424/LOCAL03/304249974#
How in God's name could you say you even care about someone, and then take a damn baseball bat to their skull?
I can see using one on some burglar you caught in your home at 3AM, but a "girlfriend"?
That boy has some SERIOUS anger-management issues, and he's going to have a LOT of time to mull that over when he gets convicted.
I expect the murder rap to be plead on down to something lees, like perhaps manslaughter, but in either case, Anthony's going to be doing some TIME, and I hope Susan's family wants the maximum sentence for this creep.
There is no sense to such rage within a home, directed at someone living with you...none at all.
If a situation gets THAT bad...take a damn walk, check into a hotel, or get some kind of help for God's sake.
Don't Babe Ruth your significant other into the next life because you had a problem.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
*** We also have had our EIGHTH HOMICIDE yesterday...and it took TWENTY-NINE years to get here.
And, here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120424/LOCAL03/304249975
This man, Brian Burtz, was only 15 when he was paralyzed by a .22 rifle bullet in the neck in Fort Wayne back in 1983.
The shooter, Clifford Justice, (then 59) plead guilty to a charge of criminal recklessness, sentenced to probation, and fined $500.
But that was then...and this is now.
No further charges against Justice will be forthcoming (he's in his 80s now).
The court argued Justice chased down and shot the boy (shades of another, more recent such event).
Justice was doing what his employer entrusted him to do (when a vandalism took place at the Trailways terminal where he was working that night).
*** Another case of dumbassery comes to an abrupt end.
Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120424/LOCAL07/304249941/1002/LOCAL
Wow...an HISPANIC guy stole a 1984 Caprice (desperation, or was the car tricked out, as they love to do with such vehicles of that era?) and led police on a chase through Fort Wayne, ending at a landscaping wall in the yard of the Glenbrook Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center.
Luis E. Gonzalez, 27 (of Hammond, of all places...must have a nice bodega THERE, hmm?) was taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and two felonies: auto theft and resisting law enforcement.
Gonzalez posted the $5, 750 bond and was released Monday (my, THAT was quick...must have help from his "posse").
*** Lastly today, a bit of GOOD news (for a welcome change)...no dumbassery HERE.
This is about a young man I heard on the classical music station this past Saturday here in Fort Wayne (6PM local time).
His name is Joshua Stephenson, and he's got REAL potential as an on-air personality.
Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120424/FEAT/304249996/1011/FEAT
He suffers from Aspberger's syndrome as well, but that doesn't impede his appreciation for the CLASSICS.
I listened to his show this past weekend (by accident, I was actually getting ready to turn the radio off), and he played a LOT of my personal favorites.
I told Wifey that "this kid is going places" ...and that's from someone who has been told more than a few times that I should have been in radio...I've got the voice (and face...LOL) for it. Next life, perhaps...
Josh is a VOLUNTEER...does it for GRATIS...how's THAT for being a good kid?
Sound sensitivity is a common symptom of autism (we have that in common...the sensitivity gig), and as audio therapy, his mom realized that Josh built up a tolerance to noise by listening to classical music (sorry...no AC/DC or Ted Nugent)
And it was his mom that persuaded him to follow up on his remarkable memory and love of the classics, by calling the station.
His show has been on for SIX MONTHS, and it's not part of MY Saturday evening listening.
Nice job, Josh...(and mom).
Josh can also speak Spanish and is learning French (got me beat by a mile there).
The program director summed it up best when he spoke to enriching the human spirit.
The story is a fantastic read, and demonstrates how people can overcome obstacles and instead use them as stepping stones to achieve something better for themselves, as well as be an example on how to get things done the right way.
In that, there is a lesson for every one of us.
Keep spinning those classics , Josh!
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.