Friday Follies...

Here we are again...end of the week AND...the end of the month.
I love when that happens.
And if you think that because February is coming to an end that the winter weather will be leaving with it...think again.
Predictions are that we'll continue the colder than normal weather into much of March.
(I never go against the Farmer's Almanac)
That ought to screw with the farmers too...ground is FROZEN a foot deep.
Today's weather - kinda the same as it's been...BLOODY COLD!
Highs today will again struggle to get into double digits, but at least the snow will hold off until late Sunday into early Monday (whatever amount comes along this time)
Toss in some wind chills and we're into MINUS numbers.
SO, why don't we all reach for that hot morning beverage and top it off, while we see what's been going on, hmm?
*** First out of the icehouse today is an update to that liquor store robbery/standoff in Arcola.
And here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140228/LOCAL07/302289968/1002/LOCAL

Now, Tanner Ray Dennis, 19 (of Fort Wayne) is believed to be the person that robbed S&V liquors on Illinois Rd, and he was the person found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest un that apartment over the Arcola post office by Allen county SWAT.
He suffered from schizophrenia and was on medications.
Nineteen years old...and schizophrenic? Isn't that a tad YOUNG to be so encumbered in life?
Something just isn't right there...
*** Next up, can the sun be a new crop in Fort Wayne?
Here's the story:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140227/NEWS/140229629/1005
Okay...a SOLAR FARM...at the Fort Wayne AIRPORT?
And it's ONLY taken a year to "discuss" this, and whether or not our area has ENOUGH SUN to make this a viable project.

Airport's so bright, I gotta wear shades!

Seventy five acres...for panels that "could" power 1800 homes...ONLY 1800.
All this is contingent upon any effects on aircraft coming or going at the facility, and how that might change flight patterns.
They say the new panels minimize glare, but do "we" really need this?
Is this more "pie-in-the-sky" (no pun intended) dreamworks for the Summit City?
Is this part of a 25 year masterplan (that could wind up taking over much of the SOUTH side of the city)?
You'll have to decide that one on your own.
Moving on...
*** Another example of plea dealing for a lesser sentence.
Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140228/LOCAL03/302289978

NOT Oh-Tay!

You can also check my archive post from 14 October 2013 for the "unofficial" official story that I heard on the police radio (when we used to be able to listen in).
Bet HE is another one of those "good boys"...never hurt anyone, the life of parties, always kidding around.
Well that doesn't seem to be ringing THAT true in this case.
Never even heard that this kid was arrested.
(and I rarely miss this kind of thing because I'm looking for it to see if they're one of Wifey's former students or one of the "locals"...).
And here's the J-G's article on the shooting (ambiguous as it was)
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20131012/LOCAL07/131019806/1043/LOCAL07
How nice of the media to keep us all apprised.

Oh-Tay!

We have one Walik Whiteside, (seen above, who is in NO way related to Buckwheat from the Little Rascals comedies seen at left) a 16 year old punk that would rather get high in some alley after dark.
Bet'cha Buckwheat never done that...he was too busy WORKING (in feature short films)...AND at a much younger age, too.
Anyway, this young thug decides to rob someone he apparently had been smoking with, to which he wound up shooting at that person several times as they attempted to run, striking them once in the back, paralyzing them for life.
And he gets to plea deal?
Only 25 years for attempted robbery, instead of attempted murder or even aggravated battery...gotta love those defense attorneys in this city.
(and you gotta detest the prosecutors for caving in as they always seem to do).
With good behavior, this thug will be BACK on the streets in about a DOZEN or so years, practicing all the tricks of the trade he learned while incarcerated.
Yep...gotta love it.
*** Looks like the future of "common core" in Indiana might be in jeopardy.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140228/LOCAL06/302289971

Sounds like a winner to me...AND a win for the kids, parents, educators and anyone else adverse to lockstep socialism in this state.
Nuff said there.
*** From the "Lipstick on a Pig Department", we bring you THIS story:
http://wane.com/news/local/green-light-given-to-start-renovating-eden-green-apartments/

A typical day at Eden Green...police on scene.

The infamous Eden Green Apartments (government-sponsored, naturally) are being RENOVATED (how many times is this now?).
One person who lives at E-G stated that "the COMMUNITY ITSELF around this area has a BAD reputation." (my emphasis).

Weren't we just here a hour ago, Sarge?

That kinda spells it out nicely...and TRUTHFULLY.
Anyone that believes that revamping these HUD cribs will magically make all the crime disappear is living in a (government-sponsored) fantasyland!
It's another case of tossing good money after bad, but this city loves to do that, even if it IS state money (or federal money).

With THIS many FWPD cars, we could open a sub-station.

Even if you DO "re-brand" this housing as "The Villages of Hanna" town homes, it STILL has one bad-ass "rep" to overcome, and that won't happen overnight...not by a long shot.
Anyone care to wager how LONG it takes to devolve back into anarchistic chaos once the construction is complete?
*** Lastly today, why does government always seem to want to "do the right thing" and wind up doing the exact opposite?
Perhaps THEY also suffer from a form of Oppositional Defiance Disorder?

Or maybe they can't come to grips that the problems that precipitate government intervention (read intrusion) results from a lack of responsibility and accountability of those PEOPLE the government is wanting to "help"?
We used to be a nation of people that helped themselves (and NOT to everyone else's sh*t) and they were also able and willing to HELP ONE ANOTHER.
Somehow, that message got lost in the shuffle, otherwise known as the "governmental two-step".
If the few decent people living in bad areas wanted things to change, they would speak up, and if that fell on deaf ears at City Hall, would take matters into their OWN hands, forcing the bad element out...seen it happen down in South Philly.
Today, in our rush to embrace "diversity" and fall all over ourselves while trying to be "PC" and not hurt anyone's overly thin-skinned feelings, we've become complacent (and apathetic) to things that USED to matter, such as preserving our neighborhoods and a better way of life that all but excluded the criminal aspects of our society.

Perhaps what is needed is less government assistance and more individual assistance, in that we all need to be able and willing to pull our OWN weight, as it were.
They say that God helps those who help themselves, but we see too much of government helping those not wanting to help themselves at all.
That needs to change if we are to retain a vestige of WHO founded this nation and built upon the foundation laid down by those who came before us.
Have yourselves a good weekend.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...
Stay SAFE out there, America.
See 'ya next month.