Humpday Happenings...

And it's another one of those little "big freeze" things outside today in the Hoosierlland.
It's cold enough to cause frostbite after 30 minutes of exposure, so I guess it'll be REAL easy to spot any nudists.
Today's high....a mere TEN DEGREES, and that's it.
Now, we could get into climate change, but all of you and I KNOW that the climate is ALWAYS changing, right?
(wouldn't be much fun if it didn't)
So, without any further ado, let's refill that nice HOT morning beverage and get to work seeing what else is going on...
*** First off of the glacier today is our WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at the secondary educational venues...
*** There are a couple stories of note on the police blotter.
-- Here's the first story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140226/LOCAL07/302269952/1002/LOCAL

Police conducted a warrant arrest on a known gang member, but didn't find their target.
What police DID find was another man carrying a gun w/o a license plus a bag of drugs he admitted to dealing.
While at the house, a man pulled up in an SUV and became nervous when he entered and found police there.
In the backpack he had was found a bag with "OXY" in it, an electronic scale, marijuana and ammunition for the STOLEN handgun he had in his pocket.
Donte D. Highes, 33 is now a guest of the Allen County lockup.
-- Here's the second story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140226/LOCAL07/302269953/1043/LOCAL07

Alexander A. White, 21, of the 3100 block of Vance Ave has been busted for robbing the Lassus Handy-Dandy located at 8830 Coldwater Rd back on 13 January, and making off with $170 in cash.
White has a prior for armed robbery and is also accused of robbing a Dollar General the day after the gas station robbery.
He also faces charges for unlawful possession of a firearm by a violent felon (big surprise there).
-- Here's the third story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140226/LOCAL07/302269955/1043/LOCAL07
Jamarkis Javon Carter, 21 has been charged with felony robbery in connection with aiding an unidentified gunman rob a man back on 13 February at the Centennial Townhomes, located near Lafayette St. and S.Anthony Blvd.
While Carter was called in to give a statement, the surveillance video made his story come apart.
A warrant has been issued for Carter's arrest, but he remains at-large.
And there you have THREE sterling examples of dumbassery at it's ghettoesque best.
*** The Indiana state legislature had some interesting bills flowing through it.
Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140226/LOCAL06/302269978
There was a state Senate bill 229, which was vastly amended regarding firearms buyback programs.
Originally, it was to DISALLOW local governments from conducting such "events".

And the last one we had HERE in Ft. Wayne was done by the city/FWPD to which the officers involved were off the clock and yet PAID (overtime) for their "services". Garry Hamilton, (then SE quadrant captain) ran that dog and pony show.
The amended bill NOW states that while local governments can still have such programs, they will NOT be permitted to use taxpayer money to fund them.
Private grants are to be allowed to cover costs of such programs.
Personally, I believe that civic or church groups should be doing any or all of these buy-backs in conjunction with local law-enforcement, but not RUN by the police or city.

And while firearms on school properties or parking lots is still a felony, a provision ion the bill permits Hoosiers with proper carry permits to keep firearms hidden in vehicles on school property.
A visible firearm in a vehicle is still a misdemeanor.
There is still contention over these provisions however, as stated in the article.
To me, this SHOULD be a no-brainer...either protect the children...or don't.
I opt for the former.
Moving on...
*** In a rare move, prosecutors are trying to have six men tried "as one" in a trial stemming from a beating from last November.
Here's this story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140226/LOCAL03/302269977

What's interesting is that one of the six thugs was ALSO involved in that rolling (gang-related) shootout along Lafayette at Paulding the other weekend.
The beating case is against Kulon Lewis,Jr, 20, Andrew M. Gibson, 18,  Justin Dawson, 18, Curtis Williams, 20, Ervin Herman, 19, and Curtis Phillips, 18.
It was Phillips who was (one of five) treated at a hospital after the rolling gunfight on the SE side, so we know he's no saint.
A hearing on the motion to consolidate will be held today in Allen Superior Court.
(good luck with that one)
*** The FWFD is short by $800K???
Sure seems that way, according to this story:
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/City-Request-800K-From-Roads--Parks-To-Firefighters-247183091.html

Now, I thought that such BUDGETS were all taken care of LAST year (for this year)?
SO, where the hell is the money?
(probably got spent kissing asses to bring investors to the DOWNTOWN area).
City Council says there was a "miscalculation" in the FWFD's budget...
((...ahem...))
That's a pretty frigging HUGE screwup, people.
But never fear...there IS a "solution":
The City Administration is asking for $400K from the (ready for this?) ROADS budget and another $400K from the PARKS budget.
(we could start by firing Rusty York...there's an EASY $150K)
Haven't we just heard from Frank Suarez that the city is looking at some SERIOUS ROAD REPAIRS in the wake of this nasty-ass Winter?
And that's money that has to also be "searched" for, because no one had the foresight to prepare for THAT scenario.

"Hey, it's ONLY an $800K miscalculation."

This is looking like something out of the Keystone Cops with City Hall shifting money that it doesn't have all over while King Henry keeps blowing LEGACY money like a drunken sailor.
If we still had the money that was tossed down the crapper for the downtown "revitalization" and this ASH project, we could handle the FWFD shortfall and STILL get the roads that we need fixed...FIXED.

We're fast approaching one of those "WTF???" moments here, and that can't be good at all.
*** Lastly today, whatever happened to the days when we, as average citizens don't HAVE to worry about the things mentioned in today's post?
We were used to having cities where we could feel a lot more "at ease" with the manner in which city business was conducted, because we could actually TRUST those we elected and those appointed by those we did elect.

Nowadays, we have to watch every single one of these politicos, and their cronies, because if we don't we gt taken to the cleaners...every single time.
Used to be a time when we could focus on what was going on UNDER OUR OWN ROOF, instead of what was happening at City Hall.
Unfortunately, those days seem to be gone, and as a result, we haven't as much time to concentrate on our OWN lives.
Be nice to get some time off from watch-dogging these people who seem to demonstrate that they don't seem to have an idea as to what they're doing...or why...just as long as they're popular and we "like" them.
A little trust goes a long way, but when even that trust is lost, we lose a lot more.
Therein lies the lesson for today.

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