Friday Follies...

End of another week, and we couldn't have a better start than what we've got outside this morning...
(let's hope no one comes along and louses it up)
The Hoosierland weather sees us with a wonderful overnight cool-down, and that's to be followed by a day which will seem like yesterday.
Temps will reach back into the mid to upper 70s and plenty of sunshine (no rain until Sunday), so it's going to be a pretty decent 48 hrs (or more).
Now, with that dispensed with, let's get ourselves a nice cup of our favorite morning fortitude as we set off into the weekend...
*** First out of the cupboard today is our look into this day in August, otherwise know as "What the hell happened today, Bob?"
AUGUST 15:
927 – The Saracens conquer and destroy Taranto.
1057 – King Macbeth is killed at the Battle of Lumphanan by the forces of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada.
1281 – Mongol invasion of Japan: The Mongolian fleet of Kublai Khan is destroyed by a "divine wind" for the second time in the Battle of Kōan.

1483 – Pope Sixtus IV consecrates the Sistine Chapel.
1812 – War of 1812: The Battle of Fort Dearborn is fought between United States troops and Potawatomi at what is now Chicago, Illinois.
1824 - Freed American slaves form the country of Liberia 
(and we know how well THAT turned out)

1914 – The Panama Canal opens to traffic with the transit of the cargo ship SS Ancon.

Post and his plane WINNIE MAE

1935 – Will Rogers and Wiley Post are killed after their aircraft develops engine problems during takeoff in Barrow, Alaska.

1939 – The Wizard of Oz premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California.

1945 – World War II: Japan surrenders to end the war.
1948 – The Republic of Korea is established south of the 38th parallel north.

They love us yeah, yeah, yeah.

1965 – The Beatles play to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York, New York, an event later regarded as the birth of stadium rock.

And drugs and sex and mud!

1969 – Woodstock rock and roll concert opens.
1971 – President Richard Nixon completes the break from the gold standard by ending  convertibility of the United States dollar into gold by foreign investors.
1995 – In South Carolina, Shannon Faulkner becomes the first female cadet matriculate at The Citadel (she drops out less than a week later).

2013 – The Smithsonian announces the discovery of the olinguito, the first new carnivoran species found in the Americas in 35 years.
Notable Birthdays:

1769 – Napoleon, French general and emperor (d. 1821)
1885 – Edna Ferber, American author (d. 1968)

1904 – George Klein, Canadian inventor, invented the Motorized wheelchair (d. 1992)
1912 – Julia Child, American chef and author (d. 2004)

1923 - Rose Marie, actress/comedienne (Sally Rogers-Dick Van Dyke Show)

Mannix and MOPAR...whatta team!

1925 – Mike Connors, American actor and producer (Mannix)
1933 – Bobby Helms, American singer and guitarist (d. 1997)

1968 – Debra Messing, American actress, singer, and producer
1972 – Ben Affleck, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
1979 – Carl Edwards, American race car driver

MWAH!!!

And it's VJ Day, first celebrated back in 1945...go hug and kiss someone in Times Square
*** Next up, Seems there was a major bust near downtown at a local bar.
Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2014/08/15/four-people-charged-after-police-raid-local-bar/

Seems that old friend of law-enforcement, the SPORTS AND SPIRITS BAR, located at 1730 E Wayne St was raided by damn near everyone but the IRS (and they might be stopping by NEXT week...lol)
If memory serves (see archives from 12 Oct, 2011 - 31 Dec, 2013 - 30 Nov, 2011) this is FAR from the FIRST time this place has had "issues".
This time, it looks like all the crap tossed at this wall MIGHT stick.
Believe it or else, it was CITIZENS' complaints that (finally) got the ball rolling into the investigation

(imagine that).
Only took about a HUNDRED complaints, too.
A search warrant was served around 0030 hrs this morning by (get this) the Emergency Services Team (SWAT), Vice and Narcotics, the Violent Crime Unit and the Indiana Excise Police...cripes, did someone forget to include the Boy Scouts and the Civil Air Patrol?
Now, if you've been following along, you would PIECE TOGETHER that shooting AT the bar back on 26 December 2013...guy shot THROUGH the windows of the place, wounding one person.
Well, THAT perp was caught and he was the one recently sentenced...one SENECA LAPSLEY (guess he turned state's evidence as part of a plea deal ) who I spoke about JUST last Friday...

See, you stick around here long enough, ALL the puzzle pieces come together, and provide the mosaic.
This morning's raid netted FOUR people, including the owner of the bar. He's being charged with felony maintaining a nuisance.
One of the employees, April Bradford was charged with possession of pot, and a barmaid, Jennifer Smith was arrested on an outstanding warrant along with Marcy Parker. Not a bad haul for the price.
And not to be left out, Neighborhood Code Enforcement was called in to see if there were any code violations...(bet they find a few).
Sometimes, they get it right.
Moving on...
*** Last back to the patio today, I wanted to share some pictures with you.
We've been rather fortunate of late,m because the "activity" is bountiful in our back yard.
It helps take away some of the nasty from all the two-footed cretins that infest the area.

Hummingbird NOT at the feeder.

First Tiger Swallowtail

Our resident bunny

Hummingbird AT the feeder

Yep, the neat thing about a patio and/or a garden and yard...it mirrors life, as in OUR life.
It's a "work-in-progress", as I like to call it.
And every one of us can proudly proclaim the same, can we not?
Do have yourselves a great weekend.

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