01 April 2014

No fool Like An April Fool...
And here we are...April 1st, otherwise known as April Fool's Day.
If you thought we'd start th day here in the Hoosierland with sunny skies, rainbows, and unicorns...APRIL FOOL.
We had some rain overnight, and today will see us with partly cloudy skies, gusty winds, and nice spring temps reaching (again) into the upper 50s.
Not the worst start to the month.
Meanwhile, let's fill up that morning cup and set about gazing into the abyss we call TODAY, shall we?
*** First off of the counter top, are some of the notable things to know that are occurring in the month of April:
-- Autism Awareness Month
-- Jazz Appreciation Month (put on some John Coltrane)
-- National Poetry (and writing) Month.
-- Parkinson's Disease Awareness month
-- Confederate History month (go whistle some "Dixie")
-- National Arab-American Heritage Month (you're kidding me, right?)
-- National Child Abuse Prevention Month
-- Sexual Assault Awareness Month
And of course during the month, there is tax day, ANZAC day, Earth day, Patriot's day, Arbor day (thought that was in September?), the Boston marathon, the London marathon, and Take your daughters and sons to work day (on the 4th Thursday).
Naturally, we all know that "April showers bring May flowers", right?
Finally, we have Good Friday (the 18th) and Easter (the 20th).
Oh, and if you're feeling musical, then National Trombone Week (April 6-13th) might work well for you.
*** With that behind us, let's take a peak at the start of the Japanese fiscal AND school year, otherwise known (to us) as APRIL FOOL'S DAY.
First off, it's NOT a national holiday, but more of an :"informal" one.
We can trace this day back as far as Roman antiquity and the festival of Hilaria (hence the word hilarious), and in medieval times as the "feast of fools", held on December 28, still a day where pranks are played in Spanish-speaking countries (oh, those wacky Hispanics).
They even do this in IRAN...and that goes back as far as 536 B.C., called Sizdah Bedir, and believed to be the oldest prank-playing tradition in the world.
(we don't laugh much at them THESE days...buncha loons)
In the UK, the pranks usually cease by MIDDAY, or the person playing them is called the fool.
Speaking of the UK, back in 1957, the BBC pulled a prank, called the Spaghetti Harvest, where they broadcast a film of Swiss farmers picking freshly-grown spaghetti.
The BBC was flooded with people wanting to know where they could get a "spaghetti plant"...
Got any RIGATONI plants?
The BBC declared the film a prank the following day.
Here's a WIKI on some of the more notorious jokes played by the media upon the unsuspecting public:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_April_Fool%27s_Day_jokes
It's good to be able to laugh at ourselves..(even better to laugh at someone else)
Sorry, did I say that out loud?
*** By 2018, ALL new cars will need to have backup cameras installed in them.
And this is NOT an April Fool's joke...here's the proof:
http://247wallst.com/autos/2014/03/31/nhtsa-orders-all-cars-to-have-rear-view-safety-tech/
I just guess we're all too damn BUSY with other sh*t to look BEHIND us and use the damn MIRRORS that comes with vehicles these days?
The NHTSA has come down from the mountain with this new "tablet" of laws designed to decrease back-up deaths and injuries.
Well, whenever people DON'T pay attention, stuff like that happens, no matter how much tech you dump into it...it just makes people LAZIER when something ELSE does the job for them, unfortunately.
Okay, who's NOT watching little Johnny???
Children under the age of 5 account for 31% of the fatalities (it's called SUPERVISE YOUR CHILDREN and KNOW where the hell they are), and seniors over the age of 70 account for 26% of fatalities (again, keep the oldsters in your field of vision, and don;t let them "wander").
Naturally, this will entail additional costs to vehicles...many of which are recalled damn near DAILY for other, more important things, like faulty power steering and ignition switches (thanks, G.M.).
And no, this isn't an April Fool's joke either.
*** I think I might have figured out WHY the po-po were so "interested" in our area Sunday night into Monday morning...
Had to put on my "sleuthing hat" for this one...
Here's a story in today's paper:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140401/LOCAL07/304019941/1002/LOCAL
If you notice, there was a mention of the 5100 block of Lillie St (about a 1/4 mile from our "Fortress"), and that the gang unit "visited" the house there after a bar shooting at Peanuts, located at 5727 St. Joe Rd., in which one man was shot multiple times Sunday night.
At the house, police made arrests on Jawaun Woodson (charged 15 November 2010 and 4 April last year for carrying a handgun w/o a license - repeat violator) and Sharon Wells for outstanding warrants.
Woodson was also a victim of a shooting back in March of 2007 in the parking lot of Link's Wonderland on Creighton Ave. He was 20 at the time.
Most recently, he's listed as "homeless"...BUT he still manages to afford a HANDGUN...kinda odd, don'cha think?
This boy's "got a past" with police.
The recent timeline coincides with the police presence in OUR (nearby area), obviously looking for the shooter or weapon involved at the bar up north.
I can think of no other reason at this time.
Wouldn't be the FIRST time we had gang members around the area (like the house at 4801 S. Hanna)
But, it would benefit the FWPD to stay IN our area and get to "know" the lay of the land, so to speak...they might find more gang activity than they think is here. Not to mention, that around here, finding a hiding place is too damn easy, with all the board-ups and overgrown foliage.
*** Last back to the barn today, again we see evidence of a culture war; that which we USED to hold close as American culture, and that which we're saddled with today, with violence, stupidity, and slothfulness.
Those are not things to call virtuous in OUR culture by any means, but yet, there they are.
We are learning from those who came before us in the manner we used to.
There was a time when our parents and THEIR generation showed us the way...and we followed.
Today...not so much.
Everyone wants to be their own individual, and in doing so, falls into lockstep with a growing mass of indolent and non-thinking primitives.
It's more regression than progression (imho).
The values we used to have fall by the wayside...as do moral principles and codes of conduct.
We need to seriously change that way of thinking...and acting.
Because if we do not, then we will continue to have such things intrude into our lives like the crime...and the technology (to make our life easier and us...lazier), and even more government control.
The real power resides in US, but the responsibility that goes along with it does as well...always remember that.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

2 comments:

CWMartin said...

Okay, so first off, I did NOT perpetrate any AF jokes today... though I did threaten my boss yesterday that I might call today saying I'd quit...

Nor have I been taken, though I did look up the one about IU basketball coach Tom Crean getting fired to make sure.

I had just heard about the Peanuts shooting. I wish there.... no, I better not say it. Just be confident that God knows what to do with these excuses for human life.

If Tyson and McFarlane truly believe in evolution, let them live in your neighborhood about a year and see if they are still so sure.

In the old days, there was a counter culture. Now there is "aculture"- the lack of any culture. That is what is poisoning us.

Bob G. said...

Chris:
1- Good for you...and good for you.
2- I always trust in HIM (but I would help if HE asked)
3- I confess I MISSED ep3 of COSMOS-(2), but I think you've got the gist WELL covered...and YES, they SHOULD spend some time down here.
4- Aculture,unculture,non-culture, anti-culture...whatever you call it,. it's still the same old game.
And we have much of the COUNTER-culture to thank for planting ALL those seeds decades ago.
(damn hippes)

Glad you took the time to drop by today and comment.
Much appreciated.

Stay safe (and NOBODY'S fool) up there.