Friday Follies...

And for FWCS, today also heralds the end of the school year.
(oh...joy)
I can see it now, the pharmacies will soon be selling out of over-the-counter sleep aids, muscle relaxers, and similar assorted "items" as parents have to deal with the hellions that have graced our classrooms this past year...LOL.
Good luck with that!
Down here...whatever passes for a parent doesn't really matter - they just open the door and let the kids loose to roam all over...so everyone ELSE can babysit them...not on MY property or watch.There's not a chance in hell of THAT happening.
YOUR child - YOUR problem!
(got enough of my own, thank you very much)
-- Our Heartland weather today will be very nice with highs in the mid 70s (ahhhhhhh....) and partly cloudy skies. Yes, there is always that "chance" of rain later...like those two chances you have of winning the lottery tonight...SLIM and NONE.
In any event, let's get this weekend rolling in a good mood (until someone comes along and louses it all up...lol), shall we?
*** First up today, is a rather sad tale of the lioness named NALA who was euthanized at the ripe old age of 19 at the Black Pine Animal Sanctuary up in Albion, Indiana this past Wednesday.

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130607/LOCAL/306079968
Now, I believe that fellow blogger CWM has been up there and seen Nala.
And I know she's been featured on local news segments as well.
Now, who would have thought an animal like this could die from cancer?
I would...lost a beloved dog that way. It happens, and it's got nothing to do with smoking.
Nala came to the sanctuary as a mere cub, when a couple, who was keeping her as a pet, divorced and also realized she was getting a bit LARGE to keep, and they were going to put the big cat down. A NW Indiana judge stepped in and asked if Black Pine could take the cat in.

And it was there she found a real home. Nala was what one could call a "founding member" of Black Pine when it first began and she was only 6 months old when she arrived. The story goes on about her health problems in later life and the decision to euthanize her.
Nala was laid to rest in the sanctuary's memorial cemetery on the grounds of Black Pine.
I'm sure she will be missed not only by staff, but those who visited Black Pine and looked forward to seeing her.
Moving on...
*** A bit closer to home, a drug bust on Kinnaird St., which is located on Fort Wayne's...(...all together, kids...)...SOUTHEAST side nets TWO thugs and lots of "goodies" for the police.

Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130607/LOCAL07/306079925/1002/LOCAL
Now, you might want to refer to my post back on 15 November 2012 for a story featuring ONE of the perps mentioned in today's article.

Craig David Whigum is the person in question, and one of two busted on Kinnaird St.

The other thug is named Deangelo Montrell Erby.

Erby (left) -  Whigum (right)

Craig Whigum was one of the perps that robbed the GUN SHOP in New Haven late last year.
Apparently, he's ALSO into selling drugs...LOTS of drugs.
The only issue I see is the AGE of this thug. He was listed as being 19 last November, but today's story has him listed as 39...typo by the press?
I know it's not MY mistake. Given the court records, I'd run w/ the OLDER age of 39.

Police conducted a "buy-bust" and when they took these two losers into custody around 1100 hrs Wednesday, they ALSO found the following:
272 grams of MJ
54 grams of cocaine
3 hydrocodone tabs
Scales and packaging equipment
A HANDGUN (that neither one was able to obtain LEGALLY)
Ammunition (again, not legally bought)
And $2,300 (what, no partridge in a pear tree?)
Not a bad haul, considering these guys were "repeaters" of the first order, thanks to the revolving door in our local judicial system.
I'll bet this is only the tip of the iceberg, regarding these felons.
Here's the WANE account of the bust:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/Two-men-arrested-on-cocaine-charges-after-selling-to-undercover-officer#
If you get confused about the warrant serving in this story, it goes like this:
The ARREST warrant was served and the two got the "cuff and stuff"...THEN, the SEARCH warrant was issued for the house, and that's why "no one was home" at the time of the search...hope that clears things up.
Both have nice RAP SHEETS, too.
======Craig Whigum=====
02D04-9010-CM-029808 Whigum, Craig D 10/17/1990
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OBSTRUCTION OF TRAFFIC
02D04-9203-CM-006606 Whigum, Craig D 03/09/1992
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATING WHILE INTOXICATED
IMPROPER TURN
02D04-9309-IF-022672 Whigum, Craig D 09/10/1993
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (INFR)
02D04-9401-CM-000461 Whigum, Craig D 01/26/1994
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
02D04-9511-CM-008161 Whigum, Craig D 11/08/1995
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
02D04-9511-CM-008779 Whigum, Craig D 11/29/1995
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
02D04-9605-CM-004479 Whigum, Craig D 05/30/1996
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
02D04-9608-IF-015165 Whigum, Craig 08/29/1996
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (INFR)
02D04-9802-IF-003319 Whigum, Craig D 02/25/1998
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided IMPROPER TAIL LIGHTS
02D04-9808-IF-014759 Whigum, Craig D 08/18/1998
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT
02D04-9811-IF-020664 Whigum, Craig D 11/04/1998
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT
02D04-9904-IF-006620 Whigum, Craig D 04/29/1999
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
FAIL HAVE FRONT WINDSHLD
02D04-0002-IF-002534 Whigum, Craig D 02/16/2000
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided EXPIRED PLATE
OPEN CONTAINER VIOLATION
02D04-0004-IF-006254 Whigum, Craig D 04/19/2000
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided UNREASONABLE SPEED
02D04-0005-IF-008010 Whigum, Craig D 05/24/2000
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided MATERIAL/WNDOW OBSTR VIEW
02D04-0107-IF-012462 Whigum, Craig D 07/21/2001
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided FAILURE WEAR SAFETY BELT
02D04-0305-OV-001746 Whigum, Craig D 05/29/2003
Allen Superior Court 6 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided VIOL NOISE ORDINANCE (FW)
02D04-0306-OV-001918 Whigum, Craig 06/09/2003
Allen Superior Court 4 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided VIOL NOISE ORDINANCE (FW)
02D04-0310-CM-008693 Whigum, Craig D 10/21/2003
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
02D04-0312-OV-003894 Whigum, Craig D 12/18/2003
Allen Superior Court 5 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided VIOL FT WAYNE SPEED ORD
02D04-0401-OV-000031 Whigum, Craig D 01/08/2004
Allen Superior Court 4 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided VIOL FT WAYNE SPEED ORD
02D04-0403-CM-001968 Whigum, Craig D 03/15/2004
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
WRONG WAY ON ONE-WAY ST
02D04-0405-CM-003910 Whigum, Craig D 05/19/2004
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
02D04-0406-CM-004270 Whigum, Craig D 06/01/2004
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
02D04-0503-IF-003617 Whigum, Craig D 03/11/2005
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided FAILURE WEAR SAFETY BELT
02D04-0512-CM-009127 Whigum, Craig D 12/19/2005
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
IMPROPER HEADLIGHT
02D04-0702-IF-002834 Whigum, Craig D 02/21/2007
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED MAX LAWFUL SPEEDS
OPERATE WHILE SUSP (INF)
02D04-0712-MC-002686 Whigum, Craig D 12/28/2007
Allen Superior Court 6 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. RESISTING LAW ENFORC
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
RECKLESS DRIVING
02D04-0801-FD-000004 Whigum, Craig D 01/03/2008
Allen Superior Court 4 FD - Class D Felony
Decided RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
OPER VEH ON HWY WHILE PRIV, LICENSE SUSP/REVOKED
RECKLESS DRIVING
02D04-0907-CM-004202 555228
555228 Whigum, Craig D 07/15/2009
Allen Superior Court 5 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (MISD)
EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT
02H01-1111-IF-014685 000024598614 WHIGUM, CRAIG D 11/07/2011
New Haven City Court IF - Infraction
Decided 9-19-10-2/IFD: Failure of Occupant to Use Safety Belt
02D04-1201-IF-000430 000023586228
000023586228 WHIGUM, CRAIG D 01/17/2012
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided 9-24-7-4/IFC: Learners Permit Violation
9-25-8-2(a)(1)/IFA: Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Financial Responsibility
02D04-1204-IF-003913 659990 WHIGUM, CRAIG D 04/09/2012
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided 9-24-19-1/IFA: Driving While Suspended
02D06-1211-MC-003058 NA
====================
4505 ANTHONY WAYNE DR SW
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
1121 Oak St
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
2821 S Lafayette
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
======Deangelo Erby=====
02D04-0109-MC-001363 Erby, Deangelo M 09/19/2001
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. REC STOLEN PROPERTY
NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
FAILURE TO SIGNAL TURN
FALSE & FICTITIOUS REG'N
02D04-0109-DF-000629 Erby, Deangelo M 09/24/2001
Allen Superior Court 6 DF - CL D Felony or lesser charge
Decided RECEIVING STOLEN AUTO PARTS
02D04-0110-MC-001421 Erby, Deangelo M 10/01/2001
Allen Superior Court 6 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. REC STOLEN PROPERTY
02D04-0110-MC-001567 Erby, Deangelo M 10/26/2001
Allen Superior Court 6 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C BURGLARY
P.C. THEFT
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF (A)
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF (A)
02D04-0110-CF-000495 Erby, Deangelo Montrell 10/31/2001
Allen Superior Court 5 CF - Criminal Felony
Decided BURGLARY
BURGLARY
ATTEMPT BURGLARY
ATTEMPT BURGLARY
THEFT
02D04-0111-CF-000531 Erby, Deangelo Montrell 11/19/2001
Allen Superior Court 5 CF - Criminal Felony
Decided BURGLARY
02D04-0111-CF-000532 Erby, Deangelo Montrell 11/19/2001
Allen Superior Court 6 CF - Criminal Felony
Decided BURGLARY
02D04-0409-MC-001852 Erby, Deangelo M 09/27/2004
Allen Superior Court 5 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. FORGERY
P.C. FRAUD
P.C. THEFT
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
CRIMINAL TRESPASS
02D04-0409-FC-000157 Erby, Deangelo Montrell 09/30/2004
Allen Superior Court 4 FC - Class C Felony
Decided FORGERY
THEFT
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
CRIMINAL TRESPASS
02D04-0709-MC-001903 Erby, Deangelo M 09/11/2007
Allen Superior Court 5 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. REC STOLEN PROPERTY
P.C. THEFT
02D04-0709-FD-000789 Erby, Deangelo Montrell 09/14/2007
Allen Superior Court 5 FD - Class D Felony
Decided
=====================
446 Taber St
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
=====================
And NEITHER of them lived at the KINNAIRD ST ADDRESS...curiouser and curiouser, isn't it? Wonder if the "home owner" was contacted, hmm?
Looks like Whigum was busy about town, but Erby was TOO busy in correctional facilities...and recently got let out (again).
Let's TRY to keep them off of OUR streets for a change...for a LONG time.
*** Next up, A tale of synthetic pot and the officers that cited the stores selling it.
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130607/LOCAL07/306079974/1002/LOCAL

Now, why not just SHUT the businesses DOWN until they fess up and say WHO was distributing this "incense" to the stores?

Seems a good way to roll the low-level seller to give you the "bigger dog" in this hunt, right?

You stop the DISTRIBUTORS, and then you make progress, hmm?

Still, you DO have to like the name of one of the businesses - "20 Past 4 and more"...LOL...how creative.

Couldn't figure out that whole 420 thing TOO easily, could we?

That's why they call them "head shops" people.
The owners rarely USE their heads.
*** Lastly this week, it promises to be a LONG summer in the Summit City, if I'm any judge of "character" as well as ALL the CHARACTERS that infest MY part of the ghettohood. We're definitely on track to hit FORTY homicides this year, even if the thugs "slack off" for a spell - hey, even lazy asses such as these get LAZIER from time to time...that's why they're criminals...and stupid...and apparently LIKE the color ORANGE...and flip-flops...and air-conditioned COURT ROOMS.

Such people COULD be doing something PROductive, instead of DEstructive, but that would go against their "upbringing", scant as it usually is.
It would also be nice if the FWPD were actually MORE PROACTIVE in dealing with criminal behavior and trends down here.
Nothing says "proactive" like showing up AFTER something nasty went down, right?
Well, tactics CAN change, as should the mindset of those at the top rungs of the department's ladder, if this city is EVER going to get a real grip on crime. To do less is almost like doing nothing at all.
But, you have to keep chasing that radio, answering those frivolous calls that have little to with REAL crime that happens elsewhere when you're busy doing a house call on a 911 butt dial, or trying to get some child to behave when in fact, if the parents did THAT much, the police would never have to enter into the realm of "child-rearing" of strangers...
They have THEIR OWN CHILDREN to attend to, as well as placing their lives out there every day, hoping they will be able to come home TO those children.

People have GOT to start being more personally responsible.
Stop all this "letting others do my job for me, because I've better things to do" crap.
I don't want to hear that sh*t any longer.
EACH of us has our OWN life to live...to work with...and WE are initially the ones who make it good OR bad for ourselves, completely without outside intervention. And yes, it's take courage, and diligence, and persistence, and some introspective "sweat equity" to make it all happen.
But such things should not be new to ANY of us...that's the way we USED to be as a nation...able to tackle the hard jobs and work through them.
We are STILL capable of that. All it takes is the WILL to decide to do so.
And therein lies the lesson for today.
Do have yourselves a great weekend.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

Running The Gamut...

Today's post will certainly follow along those lines as we check out all the things that have happened in the last 24 hours.
The weather today is perhaps not AS nice as the past few days, with clouds and a good chance of scattered showers...but NO deluge. The weatherman promised. Temps will peak around the mid-70s with slightly higher humidity, thanks to the moisture hanging over us in those clouds.
Still, a good day to get outside and do something constructive, so have at it.
Meanwhile, back in the garden...
*** It's time for the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."

And although it would seem like something an astrophysicist would say jokingly, the person who said this is NOT in any field related to the sciences.
The person quoted is Bill Watterson, best known for his comic strip CALVIN AND HOBBES.
And here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson
I think this is the FIRST person quoted who is YOUNGER than I am...LOL.
Watterson also was responsible for painting Michelangelo's The Creation on the ceiling of his dorm room in his last year of college (talk about leaving a legacy). Watterson confessed in a speech at Kenyon College in 1990, that it took him months to do. (I can imagine)

When deciding to get into cartoons, his influences were Charles Schulz (Peanuts), Walt Kelly (Pogo), and George Herman (Krazy Kat).
Watterson fought against pressure from merchandisers to market his work, but unlicensed items showed up anyway, such as the familiar Calvin urinating (on some logo).

He won the Reuben Award for humor back in 1988, becoming the youngest person to win that award. He was nominated again in 1992.
Calvin and Hobbes began in 1985, and was ended in 1995 - a very short run for a cartoon strip with the following he had.
The last cartoon as published on 31 December, 1995.
Since then, Watterson has been working with Parkinson's Disease fundraising, and painting.
His legacy was to change the confining format of cartoon strips, and in that, did very well.
Moving on...
*** The update to the latest homicide (Number 22 if you're still keeping track in your dead pools at home or work).

Here's the rap sheet of the victim, one Derrick D. Carlisle, 45, from Allen County court records:
===================
02D04-8803-IF-006578 Carlisle, Derrick D 03/31/1988
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided IMPROPER HEADLIGHT
02D04-8805-IF-009964 Carlisle, Derrick D 05/12/1988
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided IMPROPER HEADLIGHT
02D04-9001-IF-001838 Carlisle, Derrick D 01/19/1990
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED MAX LAWFUL SPEEDS
02D04-9008-CM-022896 Carlisle, Derrick D 08/16/1990
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
02D04-9009-MC-026108 Carlisle, Derrick D 09/13/1990
Allen Superior Court 5 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. POSSESSION OF COCAINE
P.C. DEALING IN COCAINE/METH
VISIT A COMMON NUISANCE
02C01-9009-CF-000323 Carlisle, Derrick D 09/17/1990
Allen Circuit Court CF - Criminal Felony
Decided DEALING IN COCAINE
POSSESSION OF COCAINE
02D04-9109-IF-026915 Carlisle, Derrick D 09/06/1991
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED MAX LAWFUL SPEEDS
FAILURE WEAR SAFETY BELT
02D04-9611-IF-019742 Carlisle, Derrick D 11/18/1996
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided OPERATE WHILE SUSP (INFR)
EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT
02D04-9702-IF-002545 Carlisle, Derrick D 02/27/1997
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED MAXIMUM SPEED LMT
02D04-9809-OV-002284 Carlisle, Derrick D 09/03/1998
Allen Superior Court 4 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided VIOL NOISE ORDINANCE (FW)
02D04-9810-IF-019626 Carlisle, Derrick D 10/21/1998
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided PARKING IN AREA WH PROHIB
02D04-9810-IF-020036 Carlisle, Derrick D 10/27/1998
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT
02D04-9903-IF-004891 Carlisle, Derrick D 03/30/1999
Allen Superior Court 6 IF - Infraction
Decided EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT
02D04-0208-OV-003027 Carlisle, Derrick D 08/27/2002
Allen Superior Court 6 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided VIOL NOISE ORDINANCE (FW)
02D04-0509-IF-013409 Carlisle, Derrick D 09/21/2005
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided FALSE & FICTITIOUS REG'N
02D04-0509-OV-002995 Carlisle, Derrick B 09/30/2005
Allen Superior Court 6 OV - Local Ordinance Violation
Decided VIOL FT WAYNE SPEED ORD
02D04-0709-OE-000682 Carlisle, Derrick D 09/19/2007
Allen Superior Court 5 OE - Exempted Ordinance Violation
Decided PUBLIC NUISANCE-ANIMAL
02D04-0807-IF-013819 Carlisle, Derrick D 07/09/2008
Allen Superior Court 4 IF - Infraction
Decided NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
EXCEED MAX LAWFUL SPEEDS
02D04-0807-IF-014411 Carlisle, Derrick 07/16/2008
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided NO OP. LICENSE IN POSS'N
02D04-1003-IF-001733 555610
555610 Carlisle, Derrick 03/11/2010
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided WRONG WAY ON ONE-WAY ST
FAIL TO REGISTER VEHICLE
02D04-1204-IF-004225 671036
====ADDRESSES====
2721 PRISCILLA LN
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
4730 Lillie St
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
===================
And now you know the complete story...
*** More proof that Social Darwinism exists.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130606/BLOGS01/130609651
A 15-month old girl was struck in a driveway yesterday, and eventually died at hospital.

This happened in the 4100 block of S. Monroe (a few blocks north of our Fortress) near Baxter St. around 1933 hrs.
A black Ford SUV was backing out of a driveway, and didn't know they had struck the child. After leaving, the family members of the child contacted the driver and the SUV immediately returned to the scene.
When the victim was taken to FWFD station 11 on Rudisill Ave, firefighters and EMTs began immediate treatment.
The child was transported to hospital in critical condition, where she later died.
At this time, no criminal charges have been filed.
-- Now...my take on this...

We have another problem down here in the ghettohood (among all the others), and that is the parents/guardians/ whatever the hell you want to call them being totally IRRESPONSIBLE when it comes to their children...or those of others at whatever crib they're visiting.

I've seen SO many instances of very young toddlers wandering in the streets, following adults out into the streets, using cars for a playground, and the like. Hell, I even saw one government-sponsored "parent" (baby-mama) placing HANDCUFFS on a toddler...I guess she was preparing him for his future?
Sometimes, these "women" (and I use the word loosely) get into some scuffle with one another, or some male, paying NO attention to where the toddlers might be wandering off to. Sometimes, they get SO damn busy on their Obama-Phone, they forget the child was playing in the yard. You hear about very young kids wandering off on the police radio almost every week.

It's all about being "entertained" to these parents, and watching a child THEY had months before is kinda boring for them these days.
Lord knows what happens when the boyfriend-of-the-month watches them...the kids get BATTERED or otherwise abused. That's another problem down here.
It's like I say...SOME people just don't DESERVE to HAVE children (that taxpayers have to pay for).
*** Another sad note...

We have had a robin's nest in the tall shrub alongside the garage door, and Momma Robin has been taking good care of that nest (and the eggs that must have been there). She let you know if you got too close, too.
Well, this morning, I saw the shrub moving in the breeze...only there WAS no breeze, just a rustling sound.
Poking around, I found not one, but TWO small raccoons that looked kinda like these guys, only not as "cute" in the shrub up by that nest.

I had to chase them out with a squirt bottle of water, and they took the hell off after falling out of those shrubs, but I fear the eggs might have fallen victim to "nature's little muggers".
Yeah, I know, survival of the fittest, circle of life, pecking order, food chain...whatever.
It still bothers me, because I'm one of those that prefers to root for the "underdog", no matter which species it might be.

And if I can protect one creature from a predator...I will.
I just missed the train when it left the station on this one.
That's not to say I can't admire a hawk or eagle or owl, and I know full well what THEIR diet consists of, but in the confines of OUR "Fortress", I'd like to believe that every creature has a chance to live...even if it's to succumb to another creature at a LATER date.
I see predators of the human kind every single day, and I detest every one of them...not very Biblical, I know, but when people just take and take and take, and NEVER give anything back but attitude, lip, and refuse, it's really HARD to "like" them.
Perhaps Momma Robin will return and give it another go...
I certainly hope so.
*** Lastly today, today is the 69th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, and it was on those beaches that thousands of soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Life began for some young men on those shores, and sadly ended for many others.

What we often forget is the price we (and others) have to pay in life.
We ALL have to pay something...some more than others.
Life is many things, and those things can be good or bad, depending on both the circumstances and your perspective.
One thing that life should never be, and that is...CHEAP.
Over the decades, we (as a society) have allowed the wholesale abortion of over 55 MILLION souls...one of which COULD have been the person who develops a cure for a disease like cancer, or perhaps become the next Martin Luther King, or Gandh.
We will never know.
On the flip side of that coin, we allow the continuance of life for mass murderers through life sentences, instead of enforcing the death penalty.
We've allowed certain duplicities to reign free, when such things should be a matter of black and white...right or wrong...good or bad.
We've gotten away from the value system we USED to have as a country...as a people.

We are not the nation we were when we fought for freedom on a foreign shore those 69 years ago...and we SHOULD be...STILL.
We seem to have misplaced the principles that allow us to live with one another in a much more peaceful manner, and with a more altruistic demeanor.
Nowadays, such things have become a "curiosity"...not for the masses, and that REALLY needs to change.
Life is complex, but it's not impossible to figure out...that's part of the challenge...and part of the journey.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

Humpday Happenings...

And what a humpday it IS here in the Heartland.
Another mild day with plenty of sunshine, temps reaching the mid to upper 70s, and possibly increasing cloudiness later on.
Should prove worthy of lots of criminal activity down here in the ghettohood.
In the meantime, let's kick back, top off our morning beverage of choice and see what all's been going on...fair enough?
*** First up, it's time for the Motto of the Week aka WHO SAID THAT?
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us."
So, who said that?
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at SETI...
*** An update to yesterday's BP robbery that happened on the (you guessed it)...SOUTHEAST side.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130605/LOCAL/306059929/0/SEARCH

This was the robbery at the BP at S. Anthony and Tillman, where a man was "detained" minutes after the police arrived on scene and began searching the area.
The person arrested, one Chad James, 22, of Fort Wayne is charged with robbery (don't forget the firearm - kick it up a notch).
Taken in the robbery was $295 in cash (according to the story)...AND (wait for it, because yours truly was RIGHT AGAIN)...FOUR packs of....

NEWPORTS!
What the hell did I say yesterday?
You just KNOW the way these people shake!
Why not take a damn CARTON for God's sake?

Dumbasses...!

James is being held in lieu of $10K bail - not high enough, considering he had a GUN...should be a LOT higher...that's the way to ENFORCE current gun laws and make it harder for the perps to slip through the judicial noose.

Police have not ID'ed the 2nd gunman, and he remains at-large.
Moving on...
*** Yes, friends, we have reached HOMICIDE NUMBER 22 yesterday afternoon after school let out.

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130605/LOCAL/306059968
This happened in the 2600 block of Mauldin St near Fruehauf St. around 1645 hours.

When police arrived on scene, they found one man dead behind the wheel of a late model blue Chevrolet, the engine still running in front of a (vacant) house with tall weeds and grass.

Several shell casings were found near the car.
Witnesses reported seeing two men fleeing the scene, one on foot.
The one on foot was described as a 5'10" BLACK MALE, wearing a gray hoodie, dark pants and black Nikes ( I heard this go out on the PD radio).
The other BLACK MALE was described as being heavy-set, and driving a 1990s model red Cadillac with a white "landau" roof.

The car might have been missing some type of logo/emblem on the passenger side (most likely near the roof and rear door).

A 1991 Coupe DeVille w/ vinyl roof.

Be nice if we knew which MODEL of Caddy the car was...like a Sedan DeVille, Coupe DeVille, STS, or Eldorado...there is a huge difference between the car models.

But that landau roof (half vinyl probably) is gonna be EASY to track.
The car fled east on Mauldin, and the footman fled northbound.


A 1993 Cadillac sedan DeVille



Both men are presumed to be armed ('Ya think? And I'll wager those guns were NOT obtained LEGALLY), and citizens are being told to take care.

SO, I can shoot them FIRST if I see them????

The victim was described as a 45 year old male who was a father, a coach and owned a car lot.

I even saw Deputy (Dawg) police chief Garry ( I got where I am by affirmative action) Hamilton speaking to the media:

"We can't do it by ourselves, and we can't police every block, so we need help when you see suspicious activity to call it in,"

Sure thing, Garry...we already KNOW you can't be everywhere...that's why law-abiding citizens like MYSELF are pretty much ARMED...24/7/365...!!!
Bet YOU don't sleep with a gun under YOUR pillow, Bub.
Things around the SE side sure have taken a DOWNWARD turn since YOU took over from (retired) Captain Nancy Chamberlin...haven't they?
Helluva "watch" you got going on here.
No motive, so suspects and no other information has been released, including the victim's name.
I'll update this as more becomes available.
((Update - 1430 Hrs - the name of the victim has been released by the coroner. He was Derrick D. Carlisle, 45 of Ft. Wayne. He has a fairly long rap sheet dating back to 1988, mostly traffic infractions, but there IS one count of possession and dealing cocaine from 1990, and he moved around a bit too. I'll post the entire stats for the recently-deceased tomorrow. The motive for the shooting will certainly be interesting to find out))
*** Has anyone seen the GAS PRICES in Fort Wayne?
(talk about some REAL ROBBERY...lol)

Last Saturday, prices were around $3.65, but today, they're ALL up around the $4+ mark, with TWO stations pricing fuel at $4.29 per gallon!

Yep, this is our "WTF???" moment of the damn week.
We are now listed as the FIFTH HIGHEST state in America for gas prices, and I have to ask WHY?
What did we do wrong to deserve this?
Here's one story link:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/gas-at-429-at-two-area-gas-stations
Now, is this a rolling sort of price gouge we're seeing to "level the playing field"?
I thought the maintenance was DONE in refineries within the Midwest...
Guess not.
Apparently a refinery in ILLINOIS is expected to go back online soon, and prices should drop, but not back to that $3.65 we had LESS than 7 days ago.
Just in time for school to let out...and have time to drive somewhere...I smell a major BAMBOOZLE here.
*** Next up, I was watching the City Council meeting last evening on cable access (Hey, I find my laughs wherever I can these days), and I was suffering through a few "jaw-drops" regarding future city budgets, cut-backs, more money wanted for public service, and the like.
The GOOD news is that council agrees they need MORE revenue.
The BAD news is it's between $14.3 MIL and $23.5 MIL...!

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130605/LOCAL/306059963/1002/LOCAL
Council cites part of the blame is due to LESS GAS TAX revenues...
Really?
REALLY???
You make cars that get BETTER mileage ergo fewer fillups, then jack UP the prices OF the gas, thereby causing people to drive LESS, and we wonder WHY gas tax revenue is LOWER? C'mon now folks, do the damn math here!
It's like trying to BAN ciggies and then wondering HOW you're going to make up the HUGE shortfall of TAX MONEY from the smokes when the smokes go away...
The politicos CREATE the monster, and then, don't want to bother taking care of it, or cleaning up after it.

Wouldn't want to be a PET in THOSE households.
But, leave it to FWPD chief Rusty York to "break the ice" and make things "lighter" with his snappy repartee` when HE addressed budget issues within the department both now and for the next several years:
“I can’t imagine what our homicide rate, our crime rate would be if we didn’t have these people working proactively,” York said.
I dunno, Rus...the HOMICIDE RATE is doing pretty damn WELL, considering all the "proactive" work the FWPD is supposed to be doing, that I'm not seeing.
If you had a really PROACTIVE department, the officers would be free from chasing radio calls for 911 butt-dials and be canvassing the streets AND the alleys around here, LOOKING for those who are causing crime, instead of just showing up AFTER the deed's been done...right?
Words still have meaning....AND power, so perhaps YOU should choose your words a bit more carefully, chief.
Don't speak about proactivity where little if any exists, kapeesh?
We're already 20+ officers LOWER than what we NEED for an area of THIS size regarding population.
Let's not add insult to injury here.
*** Lastly, it saddens me to see good officers going out every day, putting THEIR lives on the line for a city that has already allowed the ranks of the FWPD to drop alarmingly.
That serves no one, and makes "the job" harder for the thin blue line.
It's not the streets of years gone by either...it's a LOT more dangerous out there, both for citizens AND for the men and women in uniform.

We see it damn near every day in the paper or on TV.

And it saddens me to think that anyone would even consider cutting back on public safety under such conditions.

Actually, it pisses me off ROYALLY!

I move from a big city of over 2.5 million people with a homicide rate that once reached 455 one year and a police force in the tens of THOUSANDS to a city of 250+K and a department of ONLY 420 (give or take) officers, and THIS city has more problems that affect ME than those back in Philly.

I call the FWPD more in ONE month here than I did in decades in Philly, and the neighborhoods are fairly similar, with a few exceptions.
We had MORE families per block there, and fewer minorities...and a HELLUVA LOT LESS crime.
Here, we have a lot fewer families per block, a lot more minorities and LOT MORE CRIME.
So, what's the chief factor at work here?
Is it "just me"?

Or, perhaps, is it the role of minorities, broken families, entitlement mentalities, and a callous view of anyone in authority that's at work here?

The short answer HAS to be...YES, all the above.

And it would appear, from where I stand, to be the major issue as to WHY this city has one entire quadrant going to hell in a handbasket at break-neck pace. Crime isn't something new, but the manner in which it is both allowed to thrive and/or how it's to be addressed is the KEY to making this part of town a lot SAFER, and it's many of the reasons I mentioned in previous posts over the last 6 years.
It's easy to turn your back and hope it goes away...it's harder to tackle the problem head-on and do something about it.
But the rewards that are reaped by such hard work and diligence in diminishing crime here will last a lot longer than flowers at some drive-by victims' funeral.
Just something to think about.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.