07 June 2012

Ask Me Another...

That used to be the name of a rather tedious "game" when I was growing up when Mom or Dad would take those times when all I could say was "WHY?" and counter with: "Do I look like I want to play ask me another?", and it sort of fits the bill today because we're going to be asking questions and looking for answers.
And we might even come to know things a little better in the process. Nothing wrong with THAT, eh?
So, let's get our refreshing beverages at hand, grab a piece of real estate to park our keesters on, and cosy up to the computer screens on this very nice Springtime morning.
*** First up - the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote was General Dwight D. Eisenhower...(on the eve of D-Day), and I know you ALL knew that, right?
Moving onward...
*** How do you honor a WW2 veteran and hero properly?
Well, there are many ways, but the most pronounced manner to accomplish this is with some type of permanent MEMORIAL...like a STATUE.
You take a stroll through Gettysburg, and you will see statues of generals and specific regiments all over the place...and rightly so.
And I can probably STILL tell you who is who if we were to go there together...it's that moving an experience.
But what about veterans who served long after that war?
Sure, we have the IWO JIMA monument out near D.C., and that's a tribute not just to those men who raised the flag there, but to ALL who serve in the USMC.
So how about a MAJOR who served in the 101st airborne dropped into France before D-Day, that was raised in Pennsylvania with a Quaker upbringing?
How do you memorialize such a man?
With a bronze statue, unveiled yesterday in Normandy, France.
Here's the WIKI on Major Dick Winters, who died 8 January 2011:
Those of you who saw Band of Brothers know who he was, and he was someone I would have loved to have met.
He richly deserves this tribute, but I would have liked to see a similar statue in his hometown in PA.
It's only fitting that we do so to remember the price of victory...and freedom...and liberty.
*** What happens when you tie fireworks to a kitten's tail?
You IMMEDIATELY PISS ME THE F$CK OFF...!!!
And I'm sure many of you will be similarly PO'ed...
Well, continuing in the "tradition" of aberrant behavior we can easily find in Fort Wayne these days, we have THIS story:
Belinda Lewis is someone I place a great deal of trust in and have high regard for, even though we have never met personally.
She's the person in charge of Animal Control in Ft. Wayne, and does a remarkable job with the resources she has available.
This is one of the BEST run departments in the entire city.
SO, it greatly disturbs me to see some poor kitten basically tortured in such a manner, especially up on the NORTHWEST SIDE of town.
Guess criminal activity and perversions have spread to ALL parts of Ft. Wayne now.
It sickens me to see people care so damn little about a cutie like this.






I can't even call them people...they're f$cking animals...worse than animals, in fact. I don't know what to call them.
Whoever did this ranks right UP there with the rock-tosser I mentioned the other day...
And I hope to Christ they get caught, someone dimes on them, and they get the book tossed at them...several times.
Better still, turn 'em over to me...for an hour...no questions asked. I guarantee they'll never bother another defenseless animal again
This is beyond reprehensible...and needs to be dealt with...severely.
I think a fitting name for this kitten would be "PHOENIX" ...after all, she damn near had to rise from the "ashes"...
And I KNOW she'll get a good home, too.
*** How about a car that gets 118 MPG?
Well, Bob...what's the catch?
(I'm glad you asked)
The catch is that it would take 11 years for you to see an offset for the PRICE you'd have to pay for the car.
Don't believe me?
Here's the story:
With the 240V charging system, the car gets 82 miles on a charge, and that means a commute would cost NOTHING...
Or would it?
That electricity comes from COAL-FIRED utility plants, so it costs SOMETHING (especially if you're the homeowner that plugs it the hell in every night), right? Well, there's ONE lie.
How about the fact that driving this car would LOWER our dependence on FOREIGN oil?
Well, if we drilled more HERE...and opened a few NEW refineries (haven't had a new one open in over THIRTY years), THAT would take care of the foreign oil problem. Another lie?
And naturally, ANY battery (or pack of batteries) can only be charged SO many times, before they start losing that ability...and that means swapping out the batteries for fresh ones...that's gotta cost SOMETHING, too, right?
How long does a rechargeable battery last in a SOLAR LIGHT, anyway?
Not that long...and they don't retain the charge as well over time. They, like all of us...just get tired.
Now, an electric car is a good idea...IF IT WORKS.
I'd much rather see FUEL CELL technologies pursued...much better return for the investment.
*** What happens to Science Fiction writers when they pass away?
Their books live LONG after them...and so it will be with Ray Bradbury.
He passed away at the age of 91 on Tuesday, and curiously enough, HIS birthday and mine were the same.
(nice to be kept in such good company)
I remember reading his books when I was in high school (mid-60s) and the visions he proposed in his works were much the portent to many of the devices we take for granted today.
Here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury
And here is the story regarding his passing:
Amazing that he felt "we have too many cellphones...too many internets...we need to be rid of all the machines"...
Sounds TOO much like ME...LOL.
Guess we also have that much in common as well as birth dates.
I know that Fahrenheit 451 was a very sobering movie to watch (even today, considering it as made back in 1966) and paints that society as one much akin to "the nanny-state", with skewed priorities.
That was his ONLY science-fiction novel...as he would claim "everything else was FANTASY, because '451' was based in reality and fact".
I know that his works will live on in the libraries, book shelves and minds of the readers who dare open the pages and read.
Not too bad a legacy...
*** How much MLK becomes TOO much?
Well, considering ALL the cities that already have SOME sort of tribute to the late Dr. King, it's little wonder that Ft. Wayne would follow suit, considering he visited HERE (back in 1963), so it's befitting that we have a new BRIDGE on Clinton St. named in his honor.
But to some...that's NOT ENOUGH.
The Urban League of Ft. Wayne (Jonathan Ray and Larry Lee) want the entire 11 MILES of Clinton St. RENAMED to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard...
((...AHEM...)) 
Aren't you people PLEASED (enough) with the BRIDGE?
You still want MORE?
(sounds so typically LEFT-winged in nature)
How's about this...you come down to MY house and visit my MLK Memorial Wildlife Refuge (our patio) where you will find the MLK feeders (for the hummingbirds), and the MLK water dish (which doubles as a bath tub for the birds).
Come sit in our MLK Memorial Patio Chairs and rest under out MLK patio table UMBRELLA.
After that, you can see the new, improved MLK Memorial FENCE we recently had installed, venture past our MLK Memorial Gate out onto our front lawn, soon to be named the Dr. King Peace Garden...just ignore the "neighbors"...THEY'RE not all into this kinda stuff.
You can clearly see how FAR this can go, and how you can easily DIMINISH the man AND his teachings. We should not do that to Dr. King.
I say the BRIDGE is fine...and let's leave it at that.
After all, Fort Wayne is NOT Selma, Alabama...right?
*** Lastly today...life is an incredible journey; a place where we all will (hopefully) spend more than a few decades.
And, as journeys go, it can be one filled with wonder and awe, or it can one bound by tedium and boredom.
It all depends on what WE decide to make of it.
Again, it always comes down to the PEOPLE.
WE are the ones tasked with making this world turn in a proper manner, rather than in turmoil.
We might not always get it right, but we do have the ability to learn, and thereby try AGAIN if need be.
Life is a treasure to be cherished, not something to be trifled with, nor put upon a shelf like all the other trophies we accumulate.
It is to be LIVED, and lived to best of our capabilities.
To do less does a disservice to ourselves, and our families.
Now, I'm not saying we all try to scale El Capitan in Yosemite, or climb Mt. Everest next week...we do what we feel is right to accommodate our lives, even if it's the simple task of feeding the birds that stop by, or listening to some good music.
We have to find our OWN way when it comes to OUR journey.
That is the part of our individuality that can shine as bright as the sun itself.
As always...it is totally up to us to make that happen.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America

06 June 2012

Humpday Happenings -
Longest Day Edition...

Yes, friends, today is 6 June, and that means that on the beaches of Normandy, sixty-eight years ago TODAY, brave sons of America (and her allies) stormed onto German-occupied French soil to liberate the French people, fight Nazi fascism, and secure freedom for Europe...and the world.
Now, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some of the "nuts and bolts" of this grand undertaking, and we'll be doing so straight away, but first, we've some other business to attend to, so hang in there...we're going from the roads in Jersey to the shores of France today...in less time than it takes to make some flapjacks!
*** First up, today's military quote otherwise known as WHO SAID THAT?
"You are about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you...I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle."
Now, being this IS D-Day, it's a no-brainer...if you know your history (and Supreme Allied Commanders).
The answer at the top tomorrow (not that you'll need it...lol)
Meanwhile, back on the troop ship...
*** An update AND correction to yesterday's latest homicide.
The victim was NOT the person portrayed in yesterday's post (thanks to ambiguity from our local paper).
Hey, how would anyone know there was a difference between Dawain D. Porter and Dawain Dontae Porter (or Dawain Dautwe Porter)?
Now you know the CONFUSION that accompanies FATHER'S DAY in the ghettohood. I'm not related to any of them, and I was dumbfounded...!
The OBIT for the REAL Dawain DAUTWE Porter appeared in today's paper.
He was born in Gary, Indiana.
The OTHER Dawain D. Porter is apparently still with us (damn), so we'll be stuck with that one for a while (until HE gets locked up...again).
*** An update to the Paul Moss / ACSD / FWPD "saga" (?).
Here's the story link:
And an "op-ed" here:
The Op-Ed mentions transparency, but I have to ask whether transparency is the real issue when the FACTS become muddled in the first place?
If I didn't know better, I'd swear this smells of a democrat "witch-hunt" much like what was perpetrated against Matt Kelty years ago; a simple misunderstanding becomes the mountain from the mole hill. Interestingly enough, both Moss and Sheriff Fries are REPUBLICANS...
Makes 'ya wonder...doesn't it?
Personally, I would prefer (ACSD) Ken Fries over (FWPDRusty York, as far as ability to lead and maintain better morale within their respective departments.
But then again, I like those not intimidated by others and won't bend over backwards to please them.
Hopefully, all the facts will come out and we'll find out the truth.
*** Next up...anyone thinking of moving to "Joisey" better think twice, especially if they have a dog.
The state is going to start fining people who allow their pooch to hang his head out of a vehicle window...!
I kid you not.
Here's the story:
Now, while the pets will have to "buckle up" as passengers, it says nothing about if they are actually DRIVING the vehicles...
I'm just sayin'...
(And I don't even WANT to know WHO is working the pedals)
Guess it would pay to have a kennel-mate in that instance, especially if your dog is a Dachshund or Chihuahua.
I guess the NEXT thing the government will butt into is having CATS banned from using RIFLES???
And Lord knows what will happen when Giraffes have to STOP taking the subway...or elephants have to purchase a SECOND SEAT on airliners.
What the hell is this world coming to, hmm?
It's getting scary out there for our beloved pets.
Tell 'ya one thing, the level of dumbassery that the government can create knows NO bounds.
Moving on...
*** Yes, today IS D-Day...
The LONGEST DAY (as was told in a marvelous, albeit dramatized movie from the 1960s) was the culmination of Operation Overlord.
But long before the actual OP took place, there had to be disinformation given to the axis powers, so as to confound them as to WHERE (exactly) the landing would take place.
With THREE choices to select, it was determined by the allies that it would be "leaked" that the P'as D' Calais would be THE landing area (as it was the CLOSEST point between England and the French coast), to which the Germans would devote the majority of their military resources...which they DID.
The WIKI for the operation can be found here:
THIS site provides much of the buildup to the execution of the operation and is a really interesting read.
And here is the WIKI for the 6 June 1944 D-Day:
I specify the 6 June, because the TERM "D-Day" was typically used for the first day (implementation) of ANY major operation by the military back in those days.
Personally, I can't imagine what it was like on that cold, rainy morning, being seasick, and tossing whatever I tried to eat before I left at my feet, only to have the ramp on the Higgins boat that brings the men to shore riddled with enemy machine gun fire, killing fellow soldiers as they tried to disembark.
And then having to wade through the bodies and the bullets to find SOME cover and be able to regroup and attempt to storm the emplacements.
In that ONE day alone, the U.S. lost 2500+ KIA with over 7500+ wounded or missing...!
That's one sobering statistic.
It was the LARGEST casualty rate of ANY one day military action in U.S. history.
And, had it NOT been for the U.S. airborne troops (82nd and 101st divisions) that were dropped BEHIND enemy lines hours preceding the invasion, the numbers would have been higher still.
The disruption and chaos caused by the airborne units had the enemy guessing and resulted in DELAYS which allowed our beach heads to be established.
When the Germans realized that NORMANDY was the crux of the invasion, General Von Rundstedt tried to call Hitler so he could release the panzer reserves from up north to counter the attacks by the allies...but Hitler was fast asleep, and not to be disturbed.
It was not until the late afternoon that Hitler allowed the tank divisions to move south, permitting the allies valuable time to mass their forces and strike farther inland.
By then, for the Germans, it was too little, too late...
When you think of the MASSIVE logistical problems faced by the allies, coupled with an attack that simply put,  HAD to succeed..in lousy weather as well, the odds seemed stacked against us from the start.
But it was the bravery, the dogged determination, and the desire to NOT allow the axis powers to grow any further in strength which brought about the victory we achieved on those battlefields, fed by the blood of so many brave soldiers.
This was basically an "all-in" operation...and with a spirit of steadfastness and valor...our forces prevailed.
Eisenhower had even prepared a letter accepting complete blame for the defeat of our forces at Normandy...it was THAT much of a crapshoot.
To those that died...it was NOT in vain.
To those that survived...it was for those that did not, so that we may ALL remember...
Victory ALWAYS comes with a price.
And there may come times when sacrifices will be asked by some for the many.
May we still be up to the task...just as we were back in 1944.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

05 June 2012

Tuesday Tidbits...

Okay, we made it past Monday, and we're not quite to Humpday...yep, gotta be another Tuesday, which if often one of the most boring days of the week (thankfully for us in the ghettohood).
Nice to have something other than chaos around, however fleeting such reverie might be.
And with that as our banner, let's march to the tune of a better beat and get started with the day's "activities", shall we?
*** First up, more on the latest homicide in Ft. Wayne, which actually dates back to a shooting in the parking lot of Glenbrook Mall in December 2006.
Here's the story link:
Now, "IF" (and it could be just a coincidence...AGAIN) this is the SAME "Dawain D. Porter" that showed up on Indiana criminal records, he's got an interesting rap sheet.
There is nothing listed for Dawain DONTAE Porter, though...which kinda begs the question: 'was this another random shooting or a case of mistaken ID?'
======Dawain D. Porter=========
02D04-0512-CM-008768 Porter, Dawain D 12/05/2005
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
02D04-0604-CM-002380 Porter, Dawain D 04/06/2006
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided FALSE INFORMING (B)
02D04-0607-CM-005046 Porter, Dawain D 07/24/2006
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
CARRYING HANDGUN W/O LICENSE
02D04-0611-CM-007273 Porter, Dawain D 11/02/2006
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
02D04-0704-CM-002234 Porter, Dawain D 04/16/2007
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
02D04-0711-MC-002277 Porter, Dawain D 11/02/2007
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. POSSESS. MARIJUANA
02D04-0711-FD-000939 Porter, Dawain D 11/07/2007
Allen Superior Court 5 FD - Class D Felony
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA HASH OIL OR HASHISH
02D04-0904-MC-000771 Porter, Dawain D 04/15/2009
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. DOMESTIC BATTERY
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
02D04-0904-CM-002334 Porter, Dawain D 04/20/2009
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided DOMESTIC BATTERY
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
02H01-1007-IF-08392 I4163888 PORTER, DAWAIN D 07/13/2010
New Haven City Court IF - Infraction
Decided 9-19-10-2/IFD: Failure of Occupant to Use Safety Belt
02D06-1108-IF-013563 658861
658861 PORTER, DAWAIN D 08/30/2011
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided 9-24-19-1/IFA: Driving While Suspended
9-19-10-2/IFD: Failure of Occupant to Use Safety Belt
02D06-1111-FC-000347 PORTER, DAWAIN D 11/04/2011
Allen Superior Court 6 FC - Class C Felony
Pending 35-47-2-1/FC: Carrying Handgun w/o License-Prior/Prior Felony w/in 15 Yrs/School Prop, School Bus
35-44-3-3(a)(1)/MA: Resisting Law Enforcement
===================
I mean...HOW many DAWAIN D. PORTERS can there BE in a city this size, hmm?
(at least TWO...that we KNOW of, so far...)
Makes 'ya wonder, doesn't it?
-- And what exactly is the status of the FRISBY shooting...is THAT a homicide as well?
Still nothing from the coroner's office...amazing!
I maintain we are at EIGHTEEN HOMICIDES...and counting (until proven otherwise).
Moving on...
*** Is this a case of favoritism or not?
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120605/LOCAL07/306059967
This has to deal with Allen County councilman Paul Moss (R-at large) being pulled over for a DUI investigation.
But, Moss refused a breathalyzer test, and didn't appear to be drunk.
The officer did smell alcohol in the vehicle, which had several teens in it (Moss was picking up his daughter and her friends).
When you read the article and analyze the situation, it could have gone either way; Moss could have gotten a ride "downtown" or be released to be driven home by someone else.
To me, if I know I'm not drunk, I'd take the damn sobriety test, blow under the limit, and be on my way, without having to resort to calling the Allen County Sheriff to "vouch" for me...but I'm kinda weird that way. I stand on my own character.
I think the J-G wants to try and dredge up some form of favoritism being shown to Moss by the ACSD (and that would be typical left-wing tactics).
If this simple stop becomes an exercise in officer discretion alone, then no impropriety was committed and no favoritism shown.
But, that's just my 2 cents on the matter.
*** Got ourselves a brand spanking "new" bridge in Ft. Wayne.
And here's the story:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/hundreds-at-new-mlk-bridge-ceremony
The Martin Luther King, Jr. bridge on Clinton St. is officially OPEN, and it even lights up at night...!
The bridge has 25 plaques containing quotes from Dr. King, sculptural etchings, and the aforementioned lighting which can display MILLIONS of shades of color.
Okay, so it's NOT the Benjamin Franklin in Philly, or the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC, and certainly not the Golden Gate in Frisco...but it IS ours, and it's dedicated to a remarkable man...and it's kinda cool to look at. Job well done.
Now, if we could ONLY bridge the gaps between the people in this city, especially on the...(...all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST SIDE, and get people off the government teat, and back into productive living with a sense of pride for their accomplishments...THAT would be a true testament to Dr. King.
*** Lastly today, we can do some pretty interesting things....AND some pretty stupid things.
(hopefully never at the same time...lol)
Human nature is like that, but it is dependant upon the level and depth of education we decide to immerse ourselves in, and that doesn't have to apply to formal "book-learning".
Every day is a study in education, if we take the time to figure that one out.
My late father used to say that:
"The day you stop learning, is the day they put you in the ground, Son."
Truer words were never spoken.
We have the ability to learn something every day, no matter how small or insignificant is might appear.
And, if you stop to think about it, all those little things we learn every day DO have a cumulative effect, if we're doing our "homework".
I've always gravitated to learning...blame my parents for that...it's the whole "curiosity" gig with me...
If a day passes and I don't pick something up that I didn't know before (or might have forgotten over time), the day seems a bit lacking.
I have many of YOU to thank for that with YOUR blogs.
I think every day should be like that with all of us. Learn...SOMETHING.
There are two major ways to learn, as I have come to know the process.
1) You read, and use ALL your senses to pay attention to things around you.
2) (and this is a big one)...ASK QUESTIONS.
You do either of those (or both) and you simply cannot go wrong.
If such easy and basic things were pursued by a lot more people, they might get to figuring out this world a lot better, and perhaps we'd ALL learn to become better individuals and nations in the process...
(whatta concept, eh?)
Hell, it does have the novelty of never having been tried to date, and couldn't hurt, right?
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.