The Merry Month Of May...

Well, we'll just have to wait and SEE how "merry" this month is going to be, won't we?
(so far...so good...LOL)
Yes, today begins a new month, but the Hoosierland weather is getting a bit repetitious.
Again, mostly cloudy skies (some sun around sooner or later, except at 30,000 ft, where it ALWAYS shines) and a chance of showers later in the day. We hardly got anything yesterday, and that's good, because in Pensacola FL, they're getting WAY too much rainfall.
Yep, it can always be worse.
Temps today will reach into only the mid-fifties, with some gusty winds (keep those kites handy).
So, let's pour a nice comforting cup of your favorite morning beverage as we see what ALL has been going on...
*** First out of the tent today is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"There is a culture of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualismhas been a constant thread winding it's way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.' "

This was spoken by someone I actually had the pleasure of meeting a very long time ago (the 70s, in fact), and that was the late Doctor Isaac Asimov (2 Jan 1920 - 6 Apr 1992), who, aside from teaching as a professor at Boston College (biochemistry), was one of the most prolific authors of his time.
And here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov
Dr. Asimov was one of the few authors that did the convention circuit regularly back in those days, and I had one of his books autographed for me (The Gods Themselves).
What was wonderful about him was his sense of humor, which was represented in a button he wore at that convention  (Nixon is a Klingon Spy), and he was never at a loss to shake your hand, too.

It's interesting to note that his books have been published in 9 out of the 10 major Dewey Decimal Classifications.
(that ain't easy, folks)
His WIKI is rather lengthy, but definitely worth a read. He was a CLAUSTROPHILE, which means he LIKED closed spaces, and he only flew TWICE in his life (had a fear of flying), which explained why he never traveled that far (Manhattan became his permanent home, and the location where I met him at the convention).
He did learn to drive in spite of poor dexterity, and considered Boston traffic "anarchy on wheels".
He should be alive to drive around D.C. these days...!
Asimov suffered a heart attack in 1977, triple bypass surgery in 1983, and eventually passed away in 1992, from "heart and kidney failure"...which was the "official" report..
Ten years AFTER his death, it was disclosed in Janet Asimov's edition of her father's autobiography, he had contracted HIV from a BLOOD TRANSFUSION (as did Tennis great Arthur Ashe). Editors of her book advised against publishing that fact, which she did gold off, until ten years after that, when it was made public.
At the end of the WIKI are his literary works, numerous as they are, but he is perhaps BEST remembered for his THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS, which set the standard for other authors to follow in their novels, stories and screenplays.

Thankfully, his legacy of science fiction works will live on ages after his passing...
Moving on...
*** The month of MAY has it's OWN series of events and noteworthy items.
-- Today is THE day to get "leid"...in Hawaii, that is. It's LEI DAY!
-- It's MAY DAY in many countries around the world (not to be confused with mayday, mayday!)
-- May 3 - Constitution Day in Japan
-- May 3 - Kentucky Derby (1sr Saturday of the month)
-- May 4 - STAR WARS DAY (the premiere of the movie in 1997 - May the FORCE be woth you...always.
-- May 5 - Cinco De Mayo (what else?)
-- May 10 - Golden Spike Day - First Transcontinental railroad in the USA
-- May 11 - MOTHER'S DAY (buy flowers!)
-- May 12 - International NURSES Day (go hug a cute one)
-- May 15 - The beginning of Tourette's Syndrome Awareness month (blink, cough, sniff, ahem)
-- May 18 - International Day of CAPITALISM (go BUY something - help the economy)
-- May 25 - The Indianapolis 500 (last Sunday in May)
-- May 26 - MEMORIAL DAY (last Monday in May - Be a patriot - fly our flag proudly)

It's also Celiac Awareness Month, Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, Pet Cancer Month, National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, Systemic Lupus Awareness Month, National Military Appreciation Month, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Older Americans Month (est. by JFK - 1963...a favorite day of MINE now), National Moving Month (wish some neighbors would...lol), ALS Awareness Month, National Smile Month, National Bike Month, Drinking Water Month, and last but certainly NOT least...(...drum roll please...)...NATIONAL MASTURBATION MONTH (random day chosen for national masturbation DAY)...I kid you not, friends.
And now we know WAY too much, hmm?
*** Okay, I got that replacement camera from the MN pawn shop, and it works PERFECTLY, so we're good to go once again.
And I have a second backup camera arriving this week also. Got both of them for LESS than the price of ONE new camera...
God, I so love a BARGAIN.
So, beware birds, squirrels, rabbits and other assorted wildlife and potted plants...I'm comin' for 'ya!
*** And since I've got a smile on my face, there was another story that made that smile even LARGER.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140501/LOCAL03/305019972

One SERIOUS Seizure...AGAIN!

Another BIG POT BUST here in the Summit City...!!!
Another Hispanic busted, one Martin Gonzales-Medina (from Indy we're told), age 50.
Another win for the good guys.
Can't argue with that, can you?

Spec. Agent Jack Riley

The DEA's special agent-in-charge (Chicago Division) of the case (Jack Riley) stated that "This seizure shows that large-scale criminal drug trafficking organizations continue to try to use Fort Wayne both as a local distribution center, and a trans-shipment point for distribution to other states."
Kinda agree with you there...we (Ft. Wayne) are a hub city, and we've got to expect this to happen with increasing regularity.
Apparently, the MJ was arriving to a warehouse along Industrial Rd (up north) in "white goods" like CHEST FREEZERS.
A well-coordinated investigation and take-down of the suspect netted close to a TON of pot...that's almost as much as the McChesney case out in NE Allen County a couple years back.
And this is the MEXICAN POT...from (clap, clap, clap,clap) deep in the heart of TEXAS.
(secure the borders anyone?)
Well, I know of SOME folks in Fort Wayne who are NOT going to be "enjoying" CINCO DE MAYO as much as they thought they were GOING to...ROFLMAO!

Ain't that a shame...

The Feds say this is unrelated to last month's bust of two (other) Hispanics that netted about 582 pounds of the wacky weed from a house in the 8000 block of Auburn Rd.
I DO so love a happy ending, and this one is fantastic.
*** There seems to be a new "fad" around the area...get good and drunk, get behind the wheel of a car, drive like a madperson, and then crash into some house, waking the residents and destroying their humble abode.

Whiskey - Tango - Foxtrot - ???

Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/news/crime/family-abruptly-awakened-after-car-slams-into-house/
At least it seems like a fad...of sorts.
Too many people out to all hours, three sheets to the wind, driving and not knowing they need to stop BEFORE they contact a house.

Swervin' Mervins everywhere?

Well, they ARE probably wearing their SEATBELTS, so no citation THERE, hmm?
Cripes, we could use permanent checkpoints for sobriety, JUST to keep the rest of us RESPONSIBLE and SOBER folks ALIVE.
*** Last back to the hangar today, the 12th HONOR FLIGHT left and returned to Ft. Wayne yesterday, and here's the story link:
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Honor-Flight--257355241.html

What I was noticing was the age of the participants...those from the KOREAN conflict reminded me of those from WW2.
When I was a young'un, our grandfathers were the "vets"...from the "war to end all wars" - WW1, and we recall them as being "older" to begin with. We never knew them when they were young.
Then, our fathers and uncles were the vets from WW2 (the greatest generation) and we aged WITH them. We grew up and they became seniors.

In the Korean conflict era, we see those that we USED to see as children...now grandparents (again) and reminding us of our own grandparents.
In the 'Nam era, we had co-workers and other contemporaries in THAT conflict, and we aged together, reaching retirement age (for those who came back from SE Asia, that is)
It's like that "circle of life" thing...and we're active participants...ALL of us.
We look to the seniors, not as WW1 vets (they have ALL passed on) not as the dwindling numbers of WW2 vets, but now from those from wars and conflicts WE remember not just from history books, but from having lived THROUGH those times.
And this is a good month to keep that in mind, and not just for one day this month or this year.
Some gave all and all gave some...so that everyone (else) could have the freedoms and liberties enjoyed in this nation.
Therein lies the lesson for THIS month.

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