Monday Musings...

It's the last week of the month, and I'm sure there are many of you out there who will be grateful to see it end.
Weather-wise, it's been a record-setting week in a LOT of the USA.
Record cold temps and a seemingly never-ending snowfall has caused wholesale closing through much of the Midwest and East coast.
Today is no different here in the Hoosierland - schools are closed, many businesses are either closing or starting late, not that THAT is going to help.
The "high" today (?) will be whatever is is outside now...about THREE DEGREES.
(we have a current wind-chill of MINUS TWENTY ONE degrees)
Temps will fall the rest of the day, and that ain't good, friends.
Lows tonight will drop into the MINUS THIRTIES (before any wind-chill)...and THAT people is DAMN cold!!!

So, you're gonna need several HOT cups of whatever is your preference this AM, and feel free to "amend" it with your whisky of choice.
Now, let's get busy with whatever else is happening before we freeze in place...
*** First out of the freezer today (where it's actually WARMER than outside right now) is a story that makes you feel for a lot of people.
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140127/LOCAL07/301279927
The Paper Lantern restaurant, located up at 4610 Coldwater Rd at the Jo-Ann Plaza went up in flames last night like a ...well paper lantern!

FWFD crews were hampered by gusting winds and the flames reached about 30 ft high at times.
Fortunately, no one was inside at the time of the blaze.
Deputy fire chief Mark Nelson stated that they do not know where or how the fire started and the cause is under investigation.
It doesn't appear as if any other businesses were damaged in the fire at this time.
The owner of the place must feel like crap because the weather has already taken a toll on businesses with lower customer turnout, and the firefighters having to be out in sub-zero conditions using WATER to douse a fire...that's never a good mix...unless you like creating ad hoc skating venues.
Moving on...
*** The Whiner-in-Chief has his SOTU speech (read bs session) tomorrow on too many channels.
((...rolls eyes...))

I can barely stand the wait....NOT!
Wonder what OTHER expensive socialist nonsense he's going to pull out of his ass (and our pockets)
My bet is on immigration reform ( as I had predicted earlier), and this whole "income inequality" bullsh*t.
For starters, incomes are SUPPOSED to be "inequal"...that's how you ADVANCE through the ranks to make MORE money, or find a better job to do same...or even change careers.
If everyone made the SAME amounts, there would be a gross lack of competition, lack of excellence, and a lack of concern to attempt to try.
That's why I'm against raising the minimum wage...it's there for a REASON, and that is to allow people to enter the workforce, find out if that job is something they want to do, and then stay with it.,..or leave.
Cripes, I started out at ONE place at $2 (and change) per hour...worked all the way up to $8 an hour (this was the 70s mind you), and there was a sense of accomplishments there...you could see it in your paycheck.
It is up to the INDIVIDUAL to CHOOSE (there's THAT word again) what's right for them...
It's about an equal opportunity...NOT an equal result, and that also applies to minority aspects of our society.
Everyone puts forth an EFFORT, and gets compensated accordingly...better effort nets better pay, and no results gets you dismissed.
Simple as that, or at least it SHOULD be.
The same goes for our educational system...there is no "guarantee" of passing or graduation based on the fact that you just show the hell up...or are black...or raise you hand the most times.
Conversely, DON'T expect to pass a grade or graduate when you DON'T show up...or DON'T apply yourself, or DON'T come prepared to learn...again, way too simple to comprehend.
Everyone has the same chance of being successful, given the standing criteria of the times.
Granted,m there will be those with silver spoons in their mouths who will step in a pile of dogsh*t and still find a fifty-dollar bill every time, but that's not representative of the vast majority of able workers in this country...nor should it be.
We succeed or fail based on what WE do...or do NOT do...no more, no less.
And we certainly don't need government intervention to "level the paying field"...because it's BEEN nice and level for a long time.
*** Next up, yes, there WAS another shooting on the city's SE side this weekend...again at the Twin Oaks Apartments (government-sponsored housing, what else?) on Saturday afternoon...you thought we WOULDN'T have a shooting down here?

Nah, we're "better" than that, folks.
Here's the story link:
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/One-Person-Shot-At-Twin-Oaks-Apartments-241976371.html
One person was shot in the shoulder and was transported to hospital in serious condition
The location of the apartments was 2754 E.Paulding Rd. around 1300 hrs.
Witnesses said the shooter was wearing black boots, jeans and coat (probably a BLACK man, too) and got into a blue-colored car that left the scene.

NO suspects are in custody as of this post and no further information from the FWPD has been forthcoming.
How about that - new police chief...same old sh*t...simple A-F$cking-Mazing...who'da thunk?
*** Lastly today...we're being hit with another round of these horribly cold conditions out there, and that means you do NOT screw around when it comes to venturing outside, either in a vehicle or (more importantly) ON FOOT.

Yeah...YOU a dumbass! Get outta the damn street!

I've seen people already walking about so poorly dressed for this weather, it boggles the mind.
I swear,Wifey and I are the ONLY people who own a damn pair of REAL SNOW BOOTS around here!
(coming from Philly, that was SOP)
And I know we're the ONLY ones who regularly keep the SIDEWALKS clear of snow (and with all the blowing about, that's not easy).
But, we also are the only ones (that I know of) who feed our feathered friends, to which they are appreciative beyond belief. as the daily "show" they put on would demonstrate.

Mr Nuthatch stops by for a nosh.

Two mourning doves at the buffet.

This is a titmouse - like a small grey mini-cardinal.

Yesterday, we had sparrows, wrens, juncos, several mourning doves, two nuthatches, two titmouses (or is that titMICE?), and three different species of WOODPECKERS.
Evertything but a partridge in a pear tree. (we have neither)

And a  larger red-headed woodpecker tries his luck.

Wifey parks a chair by the door and just watches them...I'm usually busy snapping pictures (thank god for digital media - saves a TON of money on having to develop REAL film and wait for the pics tio come back...lol)

A downy Woodpecker at the suet cake.

And we have squirrels that we have to feed with peanuts on the ground because THEY also like the bird feeder, plus, it scares the birds off.
We even had a hawk perch for a spell, waiting for a hapless bird to have for lunch...that didn't happen, thankfully.

Mr Hawk WAS looking for a meal...Sorry.

So, if you have the chance , just stay INSIDE today, fill up the bird feeder and watch the show at YOUR place.
I know it'll be much better than anything that airs on TV say around 9PM tonight...if you get my drift.
And be careful OF those drifts out there, today...it's very deceiving if you have to shovel your way out.
Enjoy the respite...Lord knows we'll be griping about the HEAT soon enough in summer, right?

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