Humpday Happenings...

It's the middle of the week, and it's a COLD morning here in the Hoosierland.
And unless that's volcanic ash coming down, I do believe we're having a slight snow flurry out there.
I heard tell that the next several months will see cooler temperatures than normal (blame global warning), which will undoubtedly impact the farming seasons, as the ground is still quite saturated...when it's not frozen, that is.
The weather today will have us enjoying (?) a high of around 35, which is some ways under the NORMAL high we should be having (50s), sunny skies and some rain in the forecast for the NEXT couple days.
So, let's not sweat the small stuff yet, as we top off that warm, comforting morning beverage, and look to this day.
*** First out of the starting gate is a followup story to a perp that just keeps asking for more jail time...and getting it.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140326/LOCAL03/303269964

Slam that gavel!

Good old Deadrian Boykins, the thug that attacked a guard at the lockup last year was still smirking during a bench troal (no jury required) for his aggravated assault on the confinement officer. Didn't help his case one damn bit, either.
Boykins is already awaiting transfer to the IDC for his 65-year sentence for MURDER, and this is just more icing on his cake.
During the trial, Boykins did say he "felt" the officer was unprofessional and had previously "warned" the officer..

Sir THUGS-A-LOT

An INMATE...warning a GUARD?...you have got to be kidding me. He hasn't the right to do anything but obey the rules and keep his yap shut.
When Boykins is sentenced next month, he's looking at an additional TWENTY YEARS for the attack on the corrections officer.
Sometimes, you DO get a happy ending...just not for the person Boykins originally murdered.
Rot in hell, you bastard (sorry, just thinking out loud).
Moving on...
*** I found this story interesting from a more ironic standpoint than anything else.
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140326/LOCAL/303269974

We have a COUNTY flag???

Apparently, the County Allen (of Indiana) might enjoy a good environment, and plenty of access to health and exercise facilities, but when it comes to longevity, we seem to be falling behind, and the usual suspects are the cause.
Bad habits, poor decisions combined with social and economic factors are the culprits.
Of those, I'd place POOR DECISIONS at the top of the list.

That's what it's all about...!

We (here) are ranked 37th healthiest county in the entire state.
But we DID rank 10th in the state for good drinking water...
In lifespan alone, we ranked 34th...must be all the HOMICIDES?
(that only applies to certain parts of the population, though, and the stats are not by race)
So, it seems it's the BEHAVIOR of people in our county that managed to rank us so low.

Sounds like a plan to me.

(wonder if the government sponsorship giveaways are helping fudge those numbers?)
Seventeen percent of Allen County residents are considered heavy drinkers.
(I'm surprised that's not a LOT higher, given all the DUIs, related crimes, and some of the social issues)
Allen County only has 21% of the population smoking.
(seems that's a tad low to me, too)
Allen County does share (with Noble County) the highest number of single-parent households (because we can't call them a family in the traditional sense for some odd reason), while the counties with large AMISH populations have the lowest.
(another revelation there).
When it comes to "poverty", the state average is 22%, and Allen is slightly higher at 23%.

Let's define REAL poverty from perceived, shall we?

We do have a 65% rate of college attendance.
(that doesn't mean they graduated).
The unemployment rate in Allen County is 8.3% (thought it was lower than that?) with the state average at 8.4%.
But the WINNER in Allen County is...(...drum roll, please...)...VIOLENT CRIME!

Ray Charles could see this one coming!

(absolutely NO surprise there, aside from wresting the title from Gary and Indy)
We enjoy (?) a crime rate of 255 per 100,000 people...and that's not a stat to be proud of, that's for sure.
But, with the Rusty and Garry Show, I'm sure that Fort Wayne can drop those numbers to zero in NO time.
(no way...lol)
*** Next up, I want to begin oir tour of this curious aspect of humankind called:
BOBBY G'S CLIFFS NOTES ON CULTURE.

So, let's start with the traditional DEFINITION from Merriam-Webster, which is:
cul·ture - noun (latin - cultura - lit. to cultivate)
The beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time
 a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc.
 a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business)
1)  cultivation, tillage
2)  the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education
3)  expert care and training (beauty culture)
4a) enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training
 b) acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills
5a) the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations
 b) the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also :  the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time (popular culture - southern culture)
 c) the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization
 d ) the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic - (studying the effect of computers on print culture) - (changing the culture of materialism will take time — Peggy O'Mara)
6)  the act or process of cultivating living material (as bacteria or viruses) in prepared nutrient media; also - a product of such cultivation
((whew!))
And THAT is the EASY part...trust me.

When we talk about culture we usually refer to such things as that of the American Indian and their particular reverence for the land, earth and sky.
Or maybe we talk about Italians or French and their specific cuisine...or the Germans and their classical music
Whatever the case, we believe we already know what are the factors which determine one culture from another, and in most cases, we're pretty good at calling it spot on.
But those are TYPICAL aspects of culture - that which we EXPECT to find in any particular group of people or those of a given country
But, as always, we have to scratch the surface to find out what the ELEMENTS of culture truly are.

The term "culture:" is a modern concept based on a term first used in antiquity by the noted Roman orator, CICERO.
The term was "cultura animi" (cultivation of the soul)
The term later resurfaced in the 17th century, referring to the refinement and betterment of individuals, ESPECIALLY THROUGH EDUCATION.
(talk about another revelation, hmm?)
Later on during the following two centuries, this concept came to frequently include entire PEOPLES, and some scientists, such as Edward Tylor, used the term "culture" to refer to a universal human capacity.
Last century, this came into the science of anthropology (natural progression,no doubt), and encompassed the range of human phenomena that can't be DIRECTLY attributable to genetic inheritance.
(so much for Darwin, I guess). .
In AMERICAN anthropology, the word "culture:" has had TWO meanings:
1) the evolved human capacity to classify and represent experiences with symbols, and to act imaginatively and creatively; and
2) the distinct ways that people, who live differently, classified and represented their experiences, and acted creatively.
(man, that's a frigging mouthful, isn't it?)
And with modern times, distinctions were made between the physical items created by a society (tangibles), called the MATERIAL CULTURE (which can be confused with the material girl), :and everything else (intangibles), sich as language, customs, and so on.
=============
Like I said, we're barely started and this is ONLY referring to the "clinical" DEFINITION of the word.
That's why I'm taking it slow...for ALL of us...lol.
*** Last back to the barn today, I think you will find that although in past times, we had a distinct separation between cultures on a global scale, we're finding more and more melding of both the tangible and intangible facets of culture, and while that can be a good thing to SHARE our uniqueness with others on a planetary level, we must be cautious to not allow ourselves, as Americans, to "get lost in the shuffle"

Every nation comes with it's own set of values, beliefs (religious and secular), principles, laws, and heritage.
To that fact, it could be said that on a much smaller level, EACH of us comes with similar parts to our being.
I mean, we are the only US in existence...every man, woman and child is THAT special, so whatever culture we have garnered in our lives becomes part of who we are, like it or not.
It would seem that being THAT unique would carry a proper amount of responsibility, if we are to make our culture, or any culture survive.
In future posts, we'll be "peeling the onion", and pulling back ALL the layers that comprise what modern culture is...and is not.
I believe that if we're all aware of WHO we are, and become more sure of ourselves by wanting to preserve our culture (intact), we DO become better individuals and thereby become a better people as a whole.

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