More Things That Make 'Ya Go "Hmm"...

We'll be tackling the title of today's post in a minute, but we've got some other things to cover first.

-- Today's weather...NICE (for a change) with a GOOD chance of something we call RAIN coming later today into tonight...at least that's what we're hearing from the weather-folks. Temps will top out in the lower 70s...suh-weet!

-- The answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

"Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends."

This was attributed to none other than General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, (12 June 1945, address to London).

If you want a WIKI...your wish is my command, so here it is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower

He didn't do bad for a person of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry...he and I have that much in common.

His life is an amazing study and worth the time to read about it.

Here is another quote of his that I find wonderfully timeless in days such as these:

"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom."

Truly, a great man in many ways...

Meanwhile, back at the farmhouse...

*** An update to the woman found shot to death in an idling car on the near NW side of Ft. Wayne:

Here's the story link:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120531/LOCAL07/305319979

Emily Diane Housholder, 38 was the victim of a gunshot wound to the head, and is listed as the latest homicide.

The media is saying FIFTEEN, but I am claiming SIXTEEN, because the person found dead at the house on Lafayette street is STILL not listed as a homicide...more about that after this.

The car was NOT a LEXUS as first stated by media sources, but rather a 2012 Hyundai Equus. The vehicle windows were all intact, but one door was open and allowed FWPD officers inside. No weapon was found on scene. No one reported hearing gunshots...then again, no one cared that much to see a vehicle idling for HOURS either. Desensitized to something out of the ordinary...told you that people are getting this way.

The vehicle had a dealer plate, and police traced it to the dealership where Housholder's husband works. He is NOT a suspect, and has provided information that police are following up on.

Investigators have an idea as to a motive, but are withholding it until more information becomes available.

What I found were three traffic citations in Allen County (2002, 2005, 2006) for failure to wear seat belt and exceeding speed.

There was one citation from New Haven in 2011 for tailgating, so clearly, she ain't no "gangsta".

Her address was listed as

(2002) 1836 Wheeler St.Fort Wayne, 46808

(2005-present) 11604 Fox Valley Run, Fort Wayne, 46845

I dunno, but that kinda sounds like a "jacking" gone wrong...too many questions and too few answers right now.

*** The man found dead at the house in the 2500 block of S. Lafayette St has been ID'ed.

Here's the story link:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120531/LOCAL07/305319927/1002/LOCAL

Joshua E. Frisby, age 26 was the victim.

NO gun was found at THIS scene, either...
The only thing found as far as "rap sheets" go was ONE citation for unsafe lane change back in 2011, so HE doesn't appear "thuggish" in nature, either.

His address THEN was listed as:

11615 Hardisty Rd. Fort Wayne, 46845

Now the REALLY odd thing is that BOTH of these victims are supposed to be from the 46845 zip code...BUT both were found somewhere OTHER than near that area...isn't that curious?

Is there something going on in 46845?

That's one HELLUVA coincidence, don'cha think?

If THAT doesn't make you go "hmm...", I dunno what will.

*** Well, perhaps THIS story about teenage life gone bad might.

Here's the link:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120531/LOCAL07/305319925/1002/LOCAL

Stephen Perez, age 18 was at the wheel of the vehicle being pursued by local police Tuesday evening.

After the chase, during which Perez drove against traffic, over curbs and onto sidewalks, he bailed and ran toward a house, but police caught him, took him to ground and gave him the old "Cuff N Stuff".

Perez was found with 9 grams of marijuana in his possession.

His address was listed as being in the 1800 block of Webster St. and he's currently a guest of the Allen County lockup with a $7K bail.

*** By this time tomorrow, our bathroom sink will be fixed good as new...or somewhere (as we used to say) "close enough for government work"...LOL!

And that means that right after I finish HERE, I'm off for an "emergency cleanup" of the aforementioned lavatory.

I don't want to give the plumber the impression that our "fortress" has anything approaching a "ghetto-esque" appearance to it.

Scrub the floor, clean off all the fixtures and counter top, do the mirrors, get all the "stuff" from under the sink vanity removed so the fellow has some room to maneuver (and I can tell you that even for ME, that's one TIGHT FIT...kinda like "Charlie's tunnels" in the 'Nam...only NO rats, bugs, snakes, or other things to ruin one's outing.

Hopefully, he'll leave our humble abode with a sense that there STILL ARE real honest-to-God NORMAL folks that live down here and DO care about their house...and the area in general.

That's just the way we shake...we do "normal" REAL well.

Other folks around here?

Not so much.

Heard one of our "problem" houses going at it verbally last night...can't recall hearing the F-bomb used by two people SO damn much in quite sometime.

Thought it was a damn longshoreman's get-together for a moment on the Philly docks..LOL.

I wonder if the woman who was cussin' up a storm with her male buck cares if her MOTHER knows she eats with that same mouth?

Apparently, being "entitled" entitles you to act in a reprehensible manner loud enough to be heard half a block away.

Well, I have a feeling they might be moving...most all of them do...sooner or later.

*** Lastly today, saw the end to the Hatfields and the McCoys...very good series and I recommend it to anyone that wants to know about the "feud" or has family members that are always on each other's ass.

Either way, you'll learn something.

And what we ALL need to learn, is that there are those among us who simply do NOT play by the SAME rules; rules meant to provide freedom and liberty, as well as security and safety for everyone.

Those that swim "against the current" and provide nothing but statistical evidence in their wake of nonsense, crime, and otherwise exhibit what NOT to do with one's life, need to be taken to task, so that others don't have to suffer needlessly at their hands.

They used to call it being PENITENT, hence the word penitentiary...a place where bad people went to think about what they did wrong,. and to atone for the mistakes made.

We need to (again) enact punishment for those harming the innocent, and anything less is something we used to call INJUSTICE.

Funny, never saw THAT word mentioned in our founding documents...only JUSTICE...as in FOR ALL.

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

Stay SAFE out there, America.

Humpday Happenings...

Welcome to the middle of this abbreviated week, and with that comes a bit of a cool down for the next several days here in the Heartland, where we've already broken a few temperature records.
Today, it's only supposed to get into the mid 70s and later tonight, were dropping down into the high 40s.
Now THAT I can handle a lot better than sweltering heat and high humidity.
Still hoping for rain (as are many of you folks), and we "might" get some later this week.
So, without any further ado, let's get rolling, because this post is packed tighter than a New York City tenement...
*** First up, sound the trumpets and let the pigeons loose!

Sometime, last evening during the second part of the History Channel presentation of The Hatfields and the McCoys (more about that later), this blog became the proud recipient of it's ONE HUNDRED THOUSANDTH VISIT!!!
(wow, 100,000...didn't think THAT many people got THAT lost on the Internet in over six years...LMAO!)

Thank you ALL for making it possible. I suppose there are many among you that DO like to read what I have to say and shake your heads in agreement. For that, I am honored.

All I try to do is take a common sense approach to issues, stir in some personal commentary and sprinkle it with facts and figures...all designed to make you think about things. And, we do peek in on history from time to time...so as to better acquaint ourselves with what we should have learned from the past. There might also be a few local woodland creatures tossed in for good measure...lol.

So, let's press on to the NEXT 100,000...
*** And, it wouldn't be Wednesday without our military quote of the week - aka WHO SAID THAT?, so let's see what the tome has for us today.
"Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends."
I thought this quote was in keeping with Memorial Day...so, who said that?
Answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
*** Next up, I was getting ready to shave yesterday morning (after my blog post), and I pulled that little plunger thing on the sink UP to keep the water in the bowl...and the plunger did not stay up - it fell back DOWN, much to my amazement.
So, I said to myself: "Self, that just ain't right...somethin's messed up under there somewhere."

Well, I was too right on that one. Seems this plunger has a connecting rod to a ball located in the down pipe. And it rusted the hell AWAY!

Never seen anything like THAT before. The shaft rusted straight through, so naturally, the plunger wouldn't work.
The opening was weeping water, however, so I plugged that up with some "Mor-tite" (clay-like insulation material), and that solved the drippage.
As to the plunger? Well, the assembly is corroded to the point that I don't want to muck with it, so when Wifey got home, she called Korte, who's supposed to arrive here Thursday late AM.

I mean, I could change out the pipe and the plunger assembly, but if I encounter a problem, I might not have all the tools required to do the job the right way (a big thing with me), so I will defer to the professionals on this one. If it were JUST the plunger itself, no problem, but the pipe it's attached to is a specific piece for this sink, and the pros usually have all that odd stuff to repair such things. Plus, I don't have a torch, if I have to sweat the pipes apart.

Amazing how such weird sh*t manages to happen when you're not expecting it...welcome to Homeowner 101...LOL!
*** This next story is rather disturbing, as dead people found in running cars usually are, but you'll understand why I wouldn't have let it be as prolonged after the article.

Here's the link to the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120530/LOCAL07/305309976
At least it didn't happen of the...(...all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST side of Ft. Wayne, but this is VERY curious.
The car (a LEXUS with VERY DARK TINTED windows) was seen idling at a curb in the 1800 block of Sinclair St. (near Runnion).
Someone noticed the car, but really didn't do anything until HOURS after he first saw it...
FWPD says the car had been idling at the curb from 1AM...until late afternoon...that's a pretty DAMN long time to let something like that go unreported, don'cha think?
In MY part of the ghettohood, I've come to learn that ANY vehicle that cannot be readily ID'ed as belonging to another house in the area gets reported by ME after as little as 30 minutes...because as is often the case, it's got some illicit activity going on somewhere.

People will park in front of OUR house and then conduct "business" on another street, or down the damn block, so you know what to look for, and take the appropriate actions.
A few years back, FWPD managed to nab two men that were parked in front of our house (that I reported as being suspicious)...and guess what? They had drugs, scales, and other paraphernalia in that car...a really decent collar.
THAT is how you handle such things...not casually blow it all off.
People today, as I have said here MANY times, have become apathetic and desensitized to what is going the hell on around them.
You have people calling a neighborhood "nice and quiet" when in fact, they ONLY have several reports of gunfire per month...that's not acceptable to NORMAL people. But it is okay for those that become "comfortable" with things that used to be considered wrong, or uncivil, or even disrespectful.
And that is ONE road, we, as a people don't really need to be travelling down.
*** Next up, Men in Black 3 nudges The Avengers off of the top of the box office mountain.

You knew it had to happen sooner or later, and fortunately, it was the MiB franchise that did so.
Better THAT movie than some lame excuse for cinematic noire, right?
Looks like Josh Brolin does a good job of being a young Tommy Lee Jones.
And it's not the first time they appeared in a movie together...think back to No Country For Old Men (a rather odd film with a really strange ending...left you hanging and wondering a lot about too much...I hate that in a film. I want SOME type of closure somewhere).
Tommy Lee just had his 65th birthday too...not bad for "retirement age"...lol.
*** Now, about those Hatfields and McCoys..

This is a pretty good series, and with Kevin Costner, you know it's going to be LENGHTY, but that's fine with me...does the storyline good to explain things and let them play out, rather then gloss over them and cut to the next scene (several years after...lol).
I will say one thing...these two families need to get some good, honest HOBBIES, because all that fussin' and feudin' ain't getting them anywhere but shot and killed. If there's ONE thing these families need to do, it's to put down the damn BOOZE...that's getting them all into more scrapes and fights than the gangs of New York back in Victorian times.
While I do admire their particular form of "justice" (where warranted), there does come a time when people DO need to start to work together...or just move the hell AWAY from one another...pick one, please.
Personally, I think one family should have ambushed the other one, killed off all the men, and claimed it was a "hunting accident" (a really bad one, too). Then, you marry all the women, mingle the bloodlines, and call it done.
So practical in many ways...lol.
*** Lastly today, we never seem at a loss for "weird" these days.

Doesn't matter if it happens on your street with idling cars, in your state, in your nation (and especially it's capitol with all the loonie politicians), or elsewhere in the world (Yes, I'd cozy up to INDIA real fast and close, and scare the hell out of Pakistan by doing so)..we got us a mess of weird out there.

I know I'm not the only person that sees this, and I can't be the only person that would like to see something done ABOUT it, either.
All I try to do in my little part of this universe is to live as peaceably as possible, in spite of others that are entitled to be assholes, idiots and assorted morons. And, I'm sure YOU try to do likewise.
Thing is, we might come across that one thing that needs our attention, and we shouldn't just brush it off and go about our business.
We should be compelled at times to do what is right...and always for the right reasons.
I suppose that is the major distinction between what we called "the greatest generation" and all the subsequent ones that followed.
They KNEW what had to be done...and then DID it.
We take a might longer to "decide"....before we decide to decide some more.
Not doing anything can often be worse than doing the wrong thing.
What we need to remember is that apathy and indecision might have a place in other nations, but it should not be part of OURS.

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

Stay SAFE out there, America.

Back To Business...

Well, imagine waking up this morning and seeing something falling from the sky...and it's not a chunk of some old Russkie satellite, or random aircraft parts...It's something we used to call RAIN.

Now, the lightshow and thunder wasn't all that bad either, but to see and feel that rain come down, however light and sporadic it was, didn't seem all that bad somehow.

As for our Memorial day at our "Fortress", we dined on a nice steak (marinaded with sangria and spices), beef franks and hamburgers - all wonderfuklly grilled.
I even made some baked beans (hold the bourbon.,..for once...LOL), and through it all, Wifey and I could actually hear one another, converse at a normal tone (without resorting to shouting), and enjoy the day for the most part.

Since Memorial day is now behind us, let's play some "catch-up" on some of the wonderful things that have transpired in the Summit City.

*** It's stories like this that always get me laughing, because no matter HOW many times I'm right, it STILL never gets old.
Here's the link:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120526/LOCAL/305269983/0/SEARCH

Crime was on the RISE in Ft. Wayne in 2011...and now "surges" in 2012...WHO KNEW?
(I did...and said so right HERE for quite some time)
FWPD chief Rusty York thinks the rise is attributable to crimes of opportunity, and I have to (provisionally) agree for the most part.
I would say that when you "allow" the level of OPPORTUNITY in areas like ours to occur, crime WILL thrive...that's a given.
And we can blame the lack of vision when it comes to the Broken Window Theory, which when ignored DOES produce the "opportunities" to present themselves.

Most robberies, for example are representative of those committed against PEOPLE, rather than businesses.
Gee, with retail all but non-existent, that's no surprise...one can't take a walk without the possibility of being accosted.
A state law reclassified some batteries from misdemeanors to felonies...
That's one way of ginning up (or down) the stats, dependant upon possible grant monies available for specified projects or programs.
Just as crime (supposedly) went DOWN 13% on the ...(...all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST SIDE, we can clearly see that in fact, it HAS GONE...UP (homicides are six ahead of last year at this same time).
Rusty likes to compare this to SALES...
"Maybe you have a good year, and then a not-so-good year. You really have to look at a longer comparison to get any trends."
Really, Rus???
How's about we put a few officers on COMMISSION then, when it comes to noise violations, and after they make several hundred thousand bucks in the first year, we look at those "trends" again, hmm?
We DEFINITELY need a new (and more effective) police chief here in Ft. Wayne.
*** And then there's THIS little gem that got buried (probably) faster than the victim.
Here's the link to the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120527/LOCAL07/305279935/0/SEARCH

I would be willing to call this as homicide number FIFTEEN (for those keeping count in the dead pools at home or work), because it appears the man was shot, but NO weapon was found...kinda seals that part up nicely.
The shooting happened in the house at 2516 S. Lafayette St., near the Reservoir Park.
The victim was listed as dead at scene (but the coroner's report will no doubt prove it WAS a homicide).
As of today, no name or C.O.D. has been released (and it's been 3 days).
That would place us damn near DOUBLE the homicide rate from last year.
And it's not EVEN summer yet...
*** Here's another update to the shooting on Spatz Ave.
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120525/LOCAL07/305259888/0/SEARCH

Seems that 50 year old man that was JUST DRIVING down that street was caught in gang-related crossfire.
I KNEW the guy must have been clean as well as his two passengers...no real criminal activity by ANY of the three.
It was just senseless "gunplay".
I would maintain that whatever "gangs" were involved might have mistook that tan Nissan for a car they believed to be someone else's.
SPRAY AND PRAY works fine in theater, especially in a thick jungle environment, when the enemy cannot be readily seen...but on a frigging CITY STREET for God's SAKE?

And how was behavior like THIS allowed to happen?
Well, we can point fingers at the last 4-5 administrations running this dog-and-pony show called Fort Wayne, and we can blame the FWPD bosses for not acting soon enough and fast enough, and strong enough to keep this kind of thing at bay. Knuckling under to minority "pressure" for the whole lame-ass "driving while black" BS, while good police work was kicked to the curb in it's stead really isn't working out ALL THAT WELL around here...is it, people?
Didn't hear one damn word from the BLACK community when David Wilson Jr. was (mistakenly?) shot and killed driving down a SE side street...did we?

But, let a LEO so much as look at a black man or woman the "wrong" way, and you've got lawsuits out the ass directed at the department.
Sure sounds like a kind of DISCONNECT within the black community, doesn't it?
There is an (easy-fix) answer...we could just appoint a black police chief...(and then watch the city go down the crapper. UNLESS you find someone the caliber of ALLEN WEST...or LARRY ELDER).
In almost every city where there is a large black community, they have a black police chief...and (apparently) lots of crime...
Who the hell could not see that coming?
It's like the higher-ups want to placate to the minorities...and to what end?
Is life BETTER for those decent blacks suffering at the hands of THEIR OWN PEOPLE?
Certainly not.
And life is definitely not any better for anyone else dealing with the "minority of the minority" aka the thugs and gangs.

You simply cannot look the other way with such criminals...nor can you back off when the community calls you for targeting minorities (because THEY happen to be the ones breaking the laws).
That may be part of this whole community-oriented policing gig, but it's solving ANY problems...it's just pushing them to the back burner.
What is really needed in such cases is PROBLEM-oriented policing...period.
Address the problems first, and by that you find the root causes that created the problems in the first place...and deal with THOSE.
If people can think up and them implement such procedural adaptations and change the initial paradigm of how cities can be policed more effectively and efficiently, then by God, it must be practical enough to be used not just in one city, but ALL cities.
*** Lastly today, it's easy to see how things have gotten, and how things have changed over time.
It's also easy to see that when faced with issues, there are solutions that can be used...if desired.
If a city is meant to be as safe as it possibly can be, then it has to be safe for EVERYONE, or everyone is not safe...pretty simple to figure that much out.

If, on the other hand, a city wants to embrace "acceptable losses" and attribute them to "collateral damage" from certain ethnicities, all in the name of diversity, that's a bold-faced LIE to ALL the citizens of that city.

If any city has a "bad" area, then it HAS to be addressed, and not swept under a carpet in some downtown office.

To tout only the good things in a city, when ignoring the bad, and wanting to do as little as possible to correct it, sends a bad message to the people that pay the taxes, and keep that city solvent.

Just some food for thought there...
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America

Memorial Day Musings...

I already know that all of you that DO have a flag to fly got it outside as the sun came up (as I did) and are proudly displaying it...
And I also know that many of you are planning some sort of way to remember today, whether with loved ones, at some service, or perhaps just by yourself, alone with your thoughts and feelings.
All of these are fine and proper.
Today IS such a day to do so.
--Around the "Fortress" it will be Mrs. Bobby G. and myself (plus the 2 cats) and whatever other furry or feathery friends choose to stop by, and that's fine with me. They're welcome here.
I still recall with fondness all the Memorial Days from my past that were filed with people and patriotic events.
--Yesterday (as always), we watched the Indy 500...Good for Dario - his THIRD 500 win. Very well driven race.
I also had to watch We Were Soldiers (Mel Gibson/Sam Elliott/Barry Pepper - 2002)...brought home much about what TODAY is all about.
An excellent movie about those who fought and died for this nation, but more importantly...for each other (and their families).
The Ken Burns series THE WAR was also on, and I had to watch that, too.

I tried to watch the National Concert from D.C. (on PBS), but weather halted it halfway through...damn shame.
--I did finds an article in Sunday's paper that should make all of us think about those men and women who have served in our armed forces (and in many cases are STILL serving).
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120527/EDIT05/305279968/1021/EDIT
Now, I always knew that many veterans of recent conflicts had trouble re-assimilating themselves after being in theater for however long they were, and in today's world of combat, the severity of wounds have deeper impacts, especially the "unseen" wounds for soldiers.

But the story mentions veterans committing suicide at a rate equal to ONE every EIGHTY MINUTES...!
The article goes on to say that millions of vets do NOT have health care and (imho) if ANY group is deserving of this, it is THEY who have fought, bled and died on battlefronts all over the world in order to make sure that Americans on the homefront COULD have their BBQs, set off their fireworks, and get falling down drink on their booze. To provide for our service personnel IS only fair.
We ASKED them to fight, and they did. We didn't ASK them to die...but they DID. We should not need to ask ANY more of such heroes.
We should be willing to do for them without hesitation.
Interesting numbers mentioned in the story...about only ONE PERCENT of the American people have served in the military throught our history...which leaves (if my math is good) about 99%.

Seems we have a new, more deserving class of "one-percenters" that are in desperate need of medical, psychological, or emotional help.
It would seem all to easy for the OTHER 99% of America to get behind these men and women that have served and assist them in whatever way possible so THEY can get on with their lives.
In some cases, the wounds suffered in combat make even a simple task like everyday living a daunting task...and on a daily basis.
This related story is about the number of vets claiming disability:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120528/NEWS03/305289947/1006/NEWS
I have to admit that whatever aches and pains I'm feeling at my age pale in comparison to what our veterans might have to endure...some for the remainder of their lives.
Now, there are LOTS of groups you can donate to, so as to help those in need, and it's NOT going to cost you the farm, or an arm and a leg (as it HAS for many of our wounded already) to make THEIR life better, and in doing so, make YOUR life more fulfilled.

And I guess I'm done preaching from my soapbox for now...sort of.
--Today, Wifey and I have a quiet (as is possible living among the lunatics down there) day of reflection, with good eats and drink planned.
And it's a time of solace...of reverie...of contemplation...well, it IS a good day to do so, right?
Memorial Day is a day to remember such people as our vets, though...
The WIKI on this day tells all if all you want to history, as found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day
Nice to know it's been around since after the Civil War.

Memorial Day is a day when we remember the FALLEN in uniform that used to dwell among us.
We hold parades, used to decorate our bicycles as kids, and attend services at cemeteries, some that held honor guard tribute.
It's a day of REMEMBRANCE, for that's what's meant by a "memorial"...something we do to remember someone.
To me, it's a day to do things that I feel my late Father would like to take part in.
As Christians, we are commended to "do all to the glory of God", but I think our Heavenly Father wouldn't mind sitting this day out, and say it's OK to do something to the HONOR of your earthly FATHER on ONE day a year.
Same goes for the brothers, sisters, mothers, uncles, grandfathers, sons and daughters that have served.

  So, I take today with the level of solemnity that comes with it, and to that end, I do honor my father for HIS service to THIS nation.
I will raise my glass to HIM in remembrance of the man he was, the uniform he wore, and the nation that supported him and all his fellow G.I.s in whatever branch of the military they found themselves, and in whatever theater of combat they served.
All of THEM made it possible for you and I to grow up and grow older in a free society...and those recently departed from us from our military have made it safe STILL...for today and for our tomorrows.
We take ONE day a year to recollect, and to remind ourselves of the sacrifice.
Should we not take with us into the other 364 days of the year the same acknowledgment of our liberties and freedoms for the sake of those who gave all, and for the sake of our children, that they may also grow up in a country where such things as honor, integrity, and yes, even sacrifice will always mean something, rather than nothing?
I would say...yes.

We much NEVER forget...and ALWAYS remember.

DO have yourselves a wonderful day.
Thank a soldier if you see one...shake his or her hand.
Hell, buy 'em a beer.
And take some time to honor the fallen that made it possible for YOU to enjoy today.

In the meantime...

Be well, make a difference to someone (in uniform) today, and...

Stay safe out there, America.

Friday Follies...

(~Pre-Memorial day Edition~)

Welcome to the weekend which usually is a portent for the official kickoff to everything from cookout season to school letting out (which already has the parents nervous as hell), and as expected, there is no shortage of interesting stories out here to peruse, so let's jump right in and get wet...shall we?

(just make sure it's NOT the shallow end, hmm?)

*** First up today, this gem which was all but ignored by EVERY other news source...(hmm...wonder WHY?)

Here's the story link:

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Wednesday-Night-Shooting-at-Eden-Green-153611855.html

Yep, another shooting at the Eden Green Apartments...sent one to hospital and as usual, NO suspects...just like the WINTER ST. SHOOTING a couple weeks ago that also mysteriously "disappeared" from public view.

Anyone seeing a "pattern" here with reporting and following up on these acts of "gun play"?

*** Regarding another recent FATAL shooting, the OBIT for Brandon Abernathy appeared in the paper, and here's the picture

And here's the obit as it read:

(( BRANDON K. ABERNATHY, 23, of Fort Wayne, passed on Thursday, May 17, 2012. He was born Feb. 23, 1989, in Fort Wayne. Surviving are his mother, Jennifer Abernathy; grandmother, Carrie Abernathy; brothers, Damon, Lamar and Brian Abernathy, Ronald and Ralph Jr. Shorts; sisters, Danielle Beasley and Kenyel (Fred) Jackson; special uncle, Sean (Gwen Clark) Abernathy; and a host of other relatives and friends. ))

Now forgive me for saying, but "he" looks like a nice "woman"...even better looking than the recently convicted Mikki White (a biological woman), so that bears out the REASON for Brandon's untimely death...some black MALE must have been getting it on with "Brandon", found out SHE was a HE, and could not bear any embarrassment for making it with another MALE (big taboo in the thug community - loss of street cred), so this other male goes and shoots Brandon dead...

Now, could we consider this a "hate crime" considering the nature of Brandon's gender "identity"?
And if this COULD be called that, WHY isn't the media taking notice of and speaking out about it?
They always seem to do so IF a white sets about on a black, don't they?
Another "double standard" here?

I'm just offering up the possibilities based on what facts have been presented (and what I've learned over the years dealing with various people of different persuasions)...some conclusions just make sense.

*** Now...the FBI wants your help, and is willing to foot some CASH for it, as evidenced HERE.

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120525/LOCAL07/305259902

Apparently, they are STILL looking for this Derrick Cleo Tennant in connection with a federal drug dealing conspiracy which netted FIFTEEN others way back in 2009. And apparently, Tennant has been on the down low ever since.
I passed along a couple pictures to our quadrant captain MONTHS ago, with the thought that the person in the pictures MIGHT be this Derrick Tennant perp.

I mean the resemblance was rather close and he was hanging out near our "Fortress", thanks to government-sponsored housing provided for the people who were putting this guy up - he did wander between TWO houses, both of which were vacated by the occupants in a rather hurried manner...wonder why THAT was?

I haven't seen the guy since these two houses went vacant; one has since been re-inhabited by another "family", but I could probably point the Feds in a direction that might get them closer to nabbing this creep.
Thing is, when I sent the pictures along to the FWPD captain, I wasn't in it for the money...not one damn bit. I just thought it was one helluva coincidence, and MAY-BE she would take the time to follow up on this "tip".
I guess THAT got the circular file, as well, which tells me that whatever information I'm providing is getting as little attention as is possible.
And that makes me wonder WHO citizens are supposed to turn to when those were SUPPOSED to turn to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear?
Maybe SMITH and WESSON?
(just a thought...and a damn GOOD one, too)
*** This story is both funny AND pathetic at the same time, and you'll figure out why when you read it.
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120525/NEWS03/305259946/0/SEARCH

Now, I think that darkening up to HALF of a city's streetlights sends a very CLEAR message to the "crims" in the city of Detroit...don't you?
And it also sends a message to the law-abiding...as in "GET THE F$CK OUT while you are STILL alive to do so!"
Here is a city that's broke, busted, financially bereft of solvency, and going down the crapper faster than diarrhetic excrement.
So, we only light certain areas, and hopefully corral the remaining populace into THOSE areas.
What about those who still live in the areas that will be darkened and don't want to "give up" their homestead? Who speaks for THEM?
Half the lights are broken anyway, thanks to criminals, and the city has not the money to replace them.

And who caused this problem?
Who allowed crime to get it's damn foot in the door in the first place?
Who allowed all this Section 8 housing with unvetted renters to move the hell in with their thuggies in tow?
Who thinks that an "entitlement" mentality would somehow make the city BETTER?
Sorry, but you don't rise to the "top o' the heap" when it comes to CRIME without SOME of this crap being allowed to flourish, do you?
THIS is the result, and don't think it can't happen ELSEWHERE in America, because it IS, just not as bad nor as quickly.
Oakland, Philly, Chicago, Cincy, Lansing, L.A...all are showing signs of following suit with Detroit.
And even parts of cities like FORT WAYNE exhibit similar "trending", albeit it in a microcosmic manner.
*** There is this doctor in Pakistan that provided important INTEL to us , so we could bust in and nail Bin laden...which we DID.

Well now, this doc has been arrested by the Pakistani government for...TREASON...!?!
Yeah, this is a "WTF???" moment!
And now, the U.S. is goimg to be holding back aid to Pakistan.
My take on the situation, IF I were the PREZ would go something like THIS:
" Yeah, get me that sonuvabitch that RUNS that towel-headed nation on the phone NOW...
Hello? Is this Asif Ali Zardan?

Listen up, you jaw-jacking, money-grabbing, aid-sucking camel-jockey that thinks he can wear a SUIT like a normal human being...that doctor you've tossed in jail? Turn him loose unharmed NOW, as in immediately, because as long as he's behind bars in your country, we're cutting off EVERY f$cking red cent we've been sending to your 3rd century loving excuse for a nation...effective IMMEDIATELY.

Oh, and don't think we're not doing anything about any HOLDINGS you have in OUR country...we've JUST SEIZED all THOSE assets as well...should be able to send a few BATTALIONS of troops over to your freaking BORDER with that cash...thanks.

Now, you can either comply with our "request" to release him to U.S. custody for extradition...OR you can eat your young and shoot one another, because that's all you'll be able to do from this day forward without OUR help, that we've given freely all these years...we CLEAR on this, you mook?"

Yeah, and that is WHY I will NEVER be President...LOL.
*** Lastly today, we're on the edge of the Memorial Day weekend, and there's a LOT to cover on Monday, but between now and then, let's remember some of the traditions we have for our troops...
There is the Old Guard, entrusted with placing small flags on EVERY grave in Arlington National Cemetery.
There are the ceremonies held at various places to denote this important day, and they begin as soon as today.
There are the cookouts that allow friends and family to congregate, and perhaps have someone who has served among their ranks. Enjoy their company.
The solemnity of Memorial Day need not be wasted solely on SALES of things...a sale can happen for ANY reason on ANY day.
And yet, we HAVE those sales because of those who we remember; those who served, and fought, and often died to protect this nation...this "grand experiment" in self governance, so, if we think of it in THAT manner, even that Memorial Day Sale item has more value.
Sure, we can have "fun", but we must never neglect to remind ourselves WHY we can be so endulgent.
We have too many to thank, and never enough time to do so.
So, if you come across someone who has served, thank them.
And if someone has passed that served...remember them.

We'll see you all back here on Monday for the Memorial Day edition.

In the meantime...

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

Stay SAFE out there, America.