07 April 2014

Monday Musings...
Welcome to another fun-filled, action-packed week...or not.
If you like rain (and what Midwesterner doesn't?) we'll have some of the wet stuff coming down by this afternoon as temps top out in the upper 40s.
Rain will continue into tomorrow (as April showers tend to do).
I can personally state that I have had my FILL with rain, and the run-off that accompanies it, and we'll be getting more into Wifey and my "excellent adventure" in just a wee bit, but before we do that, we've some other news that's been going on...
*** First out of the floodgates today is Allen County's SECOND HOMICIDE - the first inside city limits.
(didn't think we'd make it, huh?)
Well, the WEATHER is getting better, and we ALL know what that means...
And, naturally, this happened in the...(...all together, people...)...SOUTHEAST SIDE.
Here's the "4-1-1":
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140406/LOCAL07/304069940/1002/LOCAL
Darrell King, 45, is the latest member of the city's deadpool for 2014, and the cause of death was ruled asphyxiation (probably a crushed windpipe).
This occurred in the 2000 block of Gladstone Drive, off of S. Anthony around 1715 hrs back on 5 April.
When police arrived on scene, they found an unresponsive man and he was taken to hospital in critical condition.
He died a short time later.
A fight had broken out between King and another man before police showed up.
(you DO have to go through a MENU now when calling the FWPD, as opposed to getting a dispatch person immediately...things take longer)
Although police had detained one man, no charges have been filed yet. Gang activity has not been suspected in this case which remains under (you guessed it)...investigation.
*** Meanwhile, back (still) on the SOUTHEAST SIDE, we have a fire in an abandoned school, which I told Wifey last evening was more like ARSON than anything else, and it appears I called that one.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140407/LOCAL07/304079946/1002/LOCAL
Yep, an "act of arson" is to blame for a fire that damaged the former White's School of the Arts yesterday afternoon.
FWFD was called to the scene, located in the 2300 block of E. Maple Grove Ave. around 1523 hrs.
No injures were reported.
Heavy smoke and flames were observed coming from the front office area when the fire department rolled up.
The building sustained heavy fire damage and moderate smoke and water damage.
(seems like a write-off to me)
Looks like our serial arsonist is back on the job, because if you recall some of the fires from LAST year, they happened in and around the same area of the SE. But I still would not rule out insurance fraud for the arson. I heard the school was going through rough times, and had closed due to monetary concerns.
*** Mickey Rooney has passed away at the age of 93.
While many remember him as Andy Hardy, there are those of us who recall some of his more DRAMATIC roles.
Rooney was born Joseph Yule, Jr. way back on 23 September, 1920.
And here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Rooney
Rooney was also one of the breed of actors that made the transition from big screen to TV...rather easily with his character acting.
There was not one show on TV in the 50s and 60s where you DIDN'T see him pop up.
But, to me, some of his best roles were on the big screen with such movies as Boys Town, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Baby Face Nelson, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and the Bold and the Brave, but his comic talents were never wasted with such hits as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. How to stuff a Wild Bikini, and others.
He was also very active on the stage as well as for doing voice-overs for many, MANY projects.
One might suppose he is the last of his kind in many ways. He will be missed by a LOT of people.
*** And now, to...."The REST of the story"...
As we left our intrepid flood victims, "we" were having the basement pumped out and also had Korte dispatched a second time to confirm that OUR drain was not the problem.
Wifey and I marked off the total distance to the sewer, located under the alley directly behind our garage, and the distance came to about 75 feet. We staked off every 25 feet, and the third stake was right at our gate on the alley.
When Korte came, we still had an inch of water all over, and the water heater was not in any danger of flooding, but we STILL could not flush the toilets.
Mike snaked out PAST the 75 foot mark to over EIGHTY FEET, and THAT is when I heard a "thunk" from the drain stack. Mike said "hear that?"
THIS puppy means business!
THAT was us breaking through INTO the city sewer...a sewer the city claimed they came out and checked, removing only a small portion of gravel.
Mike and I checked the access cover outside, and someone DID open it, as we could tell it had been moved, but it took an over-extension from OUR end to clear THEIR end.
And when Mike broke through, the water swirled in the drain like a whirlpool...it drained the remainder of the water in less than 5 minutes.
At last, indoor plumbing once again...LOL.
Hopefully, we'll NEVER have OUTDOOR "plumbing"again...
The old ad hoc latrines could finally be put aside, for a LONG time to come.
Mike explained that this can be common whenever you have a COMBINED sewer and run-off line, which happened to be the case with ONLY OUR TWO IMMEDIATE BLOCKS in this part of town. Everyone ELSE around this area seems to have SEPARATE drainage and sewer, and some even have a THIRD line FOR the run-off (overflow).
Makes you wonder WHY our 2 block area has gotten ignored?
Well, when it comes to those in City hall, IGNORANCE is still BLISS, right?
Now, since Wifey and I mopped and squeegeed all the rest of the water out and have had 2 box fans running non-stop since Saturday, we have a nice DRY basement...for the most part...AGAIN.
Nice and dry...
The rugs are drying well, and we even placed some outside to dry, which they did.
We didn't lose much THIS time around, and fortunately, most of my late Mom's stuff hardly got a drop on it...talk about "divine intervention" there.
I don't believe we'll have any mold either (didn't last time), as the house is traditionally LOW in humidity, and we're drying things out fast.  But, I will go around with a spray bottle of a water/bleach mix...just in case.
Looking good...
The cardboard boxes that things were stored in got the worst of it, and drying THEM out is a chore, but I need to toss them, and if they're dry, I can re-tape them and fill them with other items and boxes we're tossing...like those Russian dolls that fit inside one another.
*** Now, if you think that was the END of the troubles we encountered...LMAO...think AGAIN.
On the way to grocery Saturday, Wifey was finishing her smoke, and wanted to roll up the window on her side of the wifeymobile, and the window decided to roll up COCKEYED. In fact, it wouldn't roll up AT ALL, but it would go down. It was off the track as well.
It WAS just like THIS guy's window...
When we got to the store's parking lot, the window was down, and I was not going shopping with an OPEN vehicle...NO way (I'm from Philly, remember?)
And, since I had something similar happen to ME ages ago, I'd give this one a shot.
Had to jimmy the window up and down, but finally got it up high enough, where I could activate the switch (that's why I HATE power windows) and after getting my thumb caught and scraped, got he window back ALL THE WAY UP...I then hit the LOCKOUT button on the driver's side (allows ONLY the driver window to activate), so there's no problem for the time being.
Getting the regulator fixed will cost a couple hundred (manual crank windows are cheaper to fix), but we can hold out I suppose until school quits.
Thankfully Wifey had ME (the Red-Green of our "Fortress") along to get the window back up and closed. And that was a chore...on top of the other chores we had in the basement.
*** Last back to the garage today,  We already spent $300 for the Wifeymobile (O2 sensor, oil change and lube plus rear brake job), and we're staring at several hundred for the basement, and yet another couple hundred for the window (might get the mirror fixed as well), but considering all the RECALLS for newer cars, at least we KNOW what our problems are, and don't have to wait until something like a faulty ignition switch kills someone to figure that out.
Call it being prepared...or better yet, being AWARE of what goes on.
I would say that if you're a homeowner and something doesn't seem right someplace, get it checked out. A moderate cost up front could save you a huge cost later on, and we can never predict WHEN such things happen.
Also, with your car, the SAME thing applies. Follow the maintenance schedule, and if something feels weird, or sounds odd, have it checked out. Better to spend some bucks NOW, instead of spending a lot MORE bucks later one...that's the key.
And, if some money seems wasted, it isn't. At least you know what will NOT crap out on you, right?
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

04 April 2014

Friday Follies...
End of the week, nowhere near the end of our problems...
This one's gonna be short and sweet.
See, yesterday, our basement decided to flood yet again...a LOT. We started out with 1/2 inch, but it has migrated across the entire floor and is now a standing "lake" of about 2 1/4 inches.
Feels like being on the damn Titanic.
And our house is NOWHERE NEAR ANY FLOOD PLAIN in this city...so WTF is up with this?
Fortunately, I did move a LOT of things OFF the floor since the flood of LAST year (13 march 2013), but the water is almost over those pallets I made, so we're going to have to guess where to stash the stuff.
That's gonna be fun...NOT!
And naturally, using ANY bath or sink faucet AND the toilets is a no-no, so, survivalist that I am, we've taken to makeshift latrines I have "created" in the garage.
All the comforts of (a THIRD WORLD) home...thanks, Fort Wayne.
(yes, I am quite handy in that regard)
Well, we got TP, and lighting...and even a radio...all we need are some MAGAZINES!
Now, we DID call Korte yesterday, along with several other places, and those others had some interesting things to say.
One technician told us the city's sewers and run-offs (combined system) were flooded out...well, that makes sense, because the water in coming in THROUGH THE DRAIN.
It''s another indoor water feature. 
And when the Korte tech (Mike) snaked the drain about 75 feet and it STILL didn't clear whatever is causing the water to come in, he concluded that OUR pipes were clear enough...all the way to the CITY sewer system.
This was early-on. The floor is under 1 1/2 inches of water now.
We don't have raw sewage coming in (thank God for that), but most of the water is more clear than stinky...a good sign.
What we DO have is water up to the base of our gas-fired hot water heater...and that means if it keeps rising, I will have to turn off the pilot light and the gas feed to THAT...and hope it's not damaged.
Even THESE are almost floating now.
Wifey called the city and tried to explain the situation...and "they will send someone to check the sewer within TWO days".
Fat lot of good THAT'S doing with water (we already have) rising in the basement.
The CITY problem might not even be in OUR block,. but further down the line.
And I am praying the walls don't become damaged by the water...another thing to add to this growing list of "stuff".
Obliviously, I am taking pictures out the wazoo, but I REALLY wish I had boots to wade through that...have to go barefoot now - none of my shoes or boots can walk through that water...and it IS cold...not as cold as outside, though - small saving grace.
Nice reflections in all the WATER!
I suppose it could ALWAYS be worse...like if the place burned the hell DOWN, so a "trial by water" is preferred under those conditions.
Still, we can't use our bathrooms...no shower. No flushing, so it's outside in the garage.
Here it is...the 21st century, and we've managed to step BACKWARDS a couple hundred years.
The city will be hearing from us...count on that.
It is NEVER gonna reach...the comics.
We trust some company that can come out and pump out the damn basement, which IF the city run-off sewer doesn't stop backing up into our place, will only buy us some time, rather than dry us the hell out.
I have to say, all this is making me damn near physically ill...AND my brain hurts.
We simply shouldn't have to deal with this kinda thing THIS far from the rivers..
I DO know I need a pair of galoshes...pronto. You never know how much you NEED something when you don't have it.
Drying this place out will be a bitch...rugs are under water, and probably be tossed  Good news, no drywall, so mold will be minimal
But, it'a just all the ANGST you have to deal with...the waiting for someone to arrive, or the city "two-step".
This SHOULD NOT be happening.
All I know is that OUR drain should be clear...and it isn't. And water from OUTSIDE is coming INSIDE.
 I thought when the rain stopped yesterday, the water inside would recede...guess we got a LOT of run-off.
Not hearing about others having similar issues (just us...as always).
Well, can't do much but try and light fires under people.
Can''t effectively bail the water out...nowhere to put it.
Kinda-soirta feel like Steve McCroskey from AIRPLANE!
Looks like I picked the WRONG WEEK to quit SMOKING!
But we hope some place like Stanley Steemer could find some way to pump it out...as long as it doesn't keep coming IN.
(aye, there's the rub, he stated)
I am really at a loss here...and that bugs me too.
Prior to this yesterday, we had NO warning that anything like this WOULD happen...(as usual)
I guess THEIR problem is worse than OURS
The Korte tech told us over on Fairfield, the person living there had a geyser coming up from their toilet...they did not have a basement drain...just a waste stack outside, so in some respects, I think I'd rather have the basement problem than a fountain for a toilet.
One SMALL good thing...I dug around out in the garage and FOUND an old pair of wading boots in an old wheelbarrow.
They ain't pretty or new, but they WORK.
Not gorgeous - just functional, and that makes journeys to LAKE BOBBY G a lot more easier on the old tootsies. They seep a little inside (haven't found a hole in them...weird), but it's nice NOT to have soggy shoes, socks and feet.
That's not saying much, though.
And naturally, the weekend's here tomorrow - everybody costs MORE...this is damn frustrating
Have to keep watching the water heater...don't want the pilot light to go out and the basement fill with gas and then blow the hell up...that would really suck.
Like I said one problem on top of another.
(( UPDATE - 1255 HRS - We called a business called WATER-OUT - great people - know the job.
A modern-day "savior".
They just left after being able to pump 80% of the water OUTside the house where it belongs, which will buy us some time, and we can also see the city Water/Sewer Dept. trucks in the area, as well as a company called "Golden Rule"  - another water removal business, so we CANNOT be the ONLY ones going through this...more as it becomes available. It has gone from BOBBY'S LAKE to BOBBY'S POND.))

We'll have to see what happens...gonna be a really bumpy ride, that's for sure...
We are the only TWO BLOCK AREA with COMBINES sewer/runoff lines in this area (according to the city GIS maps)...that's kind of ODD...we need separate lines, apparently.
Have yourselves a good weekend.
Be well, make a difference to someone today and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

03 April 2014

Those April Showers...
We've got them today here in the Hoosierland, that's for sure.
And most likely gonna have them tomorrow as well.
Break out those umbrellas (for those of you not wishing to get wet).
We can kiss off seeing much of the sun today, as temps rise to only the mid-40s.
As you travel farther south in Indiana, the weather will be more severe with high winds added to the rain.
Anywho, let's get busy with the "rest of the story" as we top off that morning cup of java (or whatever else you prefer)...
*** First off of the hotplate today is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."
This was spoken by the late Ray Bradbury - (22 August 1920 - 5 June 2012) and here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury
And, if you want to spend some time reading about this wonderful writer of fantasy and science fiction, by all means, read the WIKI on him. I promise that if nothing else, it will prove to be more than a bit inspirational.
His life was not that bad for someone who never had a driver's license, was married once to the only girl he dated, and spent several hours every day in the library during the Depression.
Moving on...
*** When getting the Wifeymobile yesterday, I had the opportunity (?) to get a look at how our alley is doing...as well as what is NOT being down, namely cleaning it the hell up.
Looking northbound - not TOO bad.
There are times you just walk along, shaking your head in disbelief...that we (as a society) can care so little about things we SHOULD be caring about, while caring too much about things that deserve little if any real attention at all.
Looking southbound - VERY bad.
Talk about misplaced priorities...!
It doesn't take that much effort to effect some real change, but it DOES take something called DESIRE.
The sincere WANT to make things better. That's the key.
And, of course, you also require the MOTIVATION to do such things.
I swear that some people could use (and need) some drill sergeant in their face 24/7 "helping" them along life's way.
You can tell how disconnected people are by their "ghetto-shuffle" down the middle of the streets around here.
You can look at them and know they haven't a clue as to how they're going to handle the rest of the day, let alone the remainder of such pitiful lives.
Such people seem to go from one event to another...one minute to the next...
That's pretty sad, but it does explain why things are the way they are in this part of town.
This crap has been here a LONG time.
Trash sits for MONTHS in back of some of the rental houses...houses that taxpayers help fund through the government gravy-train programs.
There needs to be some "training" that people who are on government-sponsorship (ad perpetuum) should be required to undergo, so they can better "fit in" to areas where some of us still give a rat's ass to living in a nice neighborhood, rather than a burgeoning slum.
LOVE becomes a very subjective term.
Or, we can just herd all these "people" into a confined area like the old projects and watch the fun (again).
We know that experiment was destined to fail, which it did, but our government never seems to learn from it's mistakes.
*** Next up...Scrappers have a rough life, especially when they take to stealing copper from utility companies...or vacant housea...and then get busted.
There's "gold" in that thar hill!
Some of them cause things to go "boom" when they crack a gas line and cause the structure to explode.
But over in Bangkok (got some irony there), there needs to be some "instructions" for when people find a WW2 era 500lb BOMB and then take it to a scrap metal dealer and attempt to dismantle it...with a damn BLOWTORCH!!!
Yeah, THAT left a mark!
I guess that nation or city hasn't heard of  EOD or knows that ordinance THAT old would be filled with HIGHLY-UNSTABLE explosive material?
See, some things get better with "age"...like WINE, or a good pair of shoes (comfy), while other things (like TNT)...get "worse".
Some workers there found out the HARD way...and it was the last thing they found out on THIS plain of existence.
Here's the story from the UK Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2595244/Seven-killed-Bangkok-workers-tried-dismantle-Second-World-War-bomb-blowtorch.html
After all those years...still goes BOOM!
Yeah, 70 year old unexploded bombs and blowtorches don't get along too well.
Seven workers discovered that.
The 500-pounder damn near LEVELED the scrap metal place...(as it was designed to do all those years ago).
Like I always say...we (America) used to build things that LAST...no planned obsolescence here.
*** Next, Kevin Leininger of the News-Sentinel has a good article on the education of youth in America and here's the link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140403/NEWS/140409937/1041/LEININGER
It speaks to the problem we have with kids not "wanting" to learn, which (imho) falls in lockstep with the "deincentivising" of America to seek employment (because the government has so many reasons not to work and stay on the dole)
And, if you simply ignore the "comment" by this person named Craig who spends all his waking hours dissing Kevin (for no reason other than the fact that he has the 1st Amendment on his side), it's a really good read.
I've stated here that we are now spending about THREE TIMES MORE  than what we (as a nation) USED to spend (40 years ago) on ONE child to attend school from K-12. And with ALL that additional revenue pouring in, we've not much to show for it.
Since those forty years when I was in school, we have seen more dropouts, lower achievement, lower standards, more suspensions, more crime on school grounds, and more police there.
We who led, are playing "catch-up" with the world.
We have seen nations that were far beneath us on the educational achievement list in decades past, rise ABOVE us, sending us down the list.
Here's a WIKI that thumbnails it from a 2009 report:
That's FIVE years ago, and we're not moving up the lust.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_student_performance
ESTONIA has better students that WE do???
Another reason to shake your head, hmm?
*** Last back to the barn today...we ARE in a global arena...no getting around that.
And with more nations crawling out of the Middle Ages and arriving into the modern era, we SHOULD be setting a lot better example.
Whether it's education, economics, politics, or even social issues, America needs to be a LEADER.
We've slipped a bit in recent history, and we've been fragmented from within on many occasions.
That good old "Can-Do" spirit is being held by fewer people, so why is that?
Why are many content to sit back and let the government "drive" to whatever destination THEY have in mind?
I thought that it was the individuals that made up the bulk of this nation...the melting pot, as it were; the crucible by which we were all tested.
When it comes to education these days, we always seem to "teach to the test", and yet we're falling behind.
That should never be allowed to happen, and a return to what USED to work (and with less money being wasted) would seem the prudent thing to do.
You might not be able to change people per se, but if you can change their HEARTS and MINDS by teaching them and demonstrating to them that real progress and achievement doesn't come from lounging away one's life on the government's teat, but rather by applying oneself to productive pursuits, then more than half that battle is already won.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

((Tomorrow - Wifey and I get to do a sequel to the recent movie NOAH...AGAIN!))

02 April 2014

Humpday Happenings...
Welcome to the first middle of the week for the month of April, and hopefully, any April Fool's jokes were not found along your path yesterday.
The nice weather continues here in the Hoosierland...for a bit.
Increasing clouds will turn to rain by late afternoon into the evening hours.
Temps will reach back into the upper 50s today and those breezes will be subsiding.
So, enjoy it while you can as you top off your morning beverage.
There are some items that caught my eye and I just have this need to rant, so be warned...
*** First out of the garage, is our WHO SAID THAT? quote of the week.
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."
Again, this figure into the whole culture gig and speaks not only to the last century's issues, but is just as important to those of today.
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at the tattoo parlor...
*** Next, the Wifeymobile is due for another visit to Yeoman's Service Center.
We have an " oil change" light on that needs taking care of, because the oil seems to still be in the sump. And that damn "chk engine" light goes on every 150 miles and stays on for a couple weeks before going back out.
I so detest electronic monitoring of on-board systems, but it SURE beats the problems we're seeing with ALL those other G.M. vehicles that are way NEWER that either of OUR vehicles. Don't need anything like THAT in our garage
*** Our Fearless Leader took a "victory lap" yesterday in the White House rose garden, because the ACA somehow (magically) managed to hit it's "target goal:" of seven million "subscribers" (read sheeple).
I'll give da prez one thing - he's one cocky and arrogant sum'bitch.
He just loves to pat himself on the back...when he should be kicking himself in the ass.
The whole healthcare BS party has been a failure, for the most part.
Back in 2009, when "he" first rolled this crapfest out, he mentioned those 30 million Americans without healthcare, and IF this plan was to get THEM insurance (alone) that would have been a good cause...but it WASN'T.
It has "fundamentally changed" (there's that phrase again) the face of healthcare in this nation, and NOT for the better.
How can ANYONE cite a success when, back in 2009, we had 30 MILLION without healthcare...and TODAY, in 2014, we have over FIFTY MILLION without it?
If a teacher had FIVE students (out of thirty) that failed last year, and she rolls out a plan to get THOSE five to pass the class THIS year, but instead had TEN who failed...that would hardly be construed AS A SUCCESS...would it?
(and she'd be looking for another job to boot)
It's like a car company that has say 100,000 faulty vehicles, and they tell you they;re going to "fix the problems"...and a couple years later, not only did they NOT fix things, but they now have 300,000 faulty vehicles out there...hardly a success in the terms WE are used to, right?
(but, it's not bad for a company that was BAILED OUT by the taxpayers and paid their bosses sinful dividends)
You can clearly see my point when it comes to this healthcare debacle...and it will only get worse.
But it IS a damn good way to WRECK a nation's economy (just ask George Soros).
The REAL numbers for the"goal" need to be carefully vetted and examined, because there is obviously more subterfuge at work here than truth.
Moving on...
*** I'm one of those people that believes in the death penalty, and I know that I should think otherwise, but I don't lockstep because everyone else does.
I feel that for any society to progress, it HAS to be tough on the worst criminals that surface.
And even though my personal belief has roots in the OLD Testament (dispensation of LAW), we are , or should be following the dictates of Christ in the NEW Testament (dispensation of GRACE).
I also feel that when criminals know they won't be executed for their crimes, that emboldens them into the commission of even more heinous atrocities against our fellow man,woman, or children.
And that belief (now) seems to make me a racist (probably you too), according to this article in today's J-G.
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140402/EDIT05/304029992/1021/EDIT
I never lived in the south...only visited, but I can say I obeyed all the laws THERE as I would anyplace else.
I believe in JUSTICE...for the VICTIM first, and that's why I have issues with our judicial system...it's FLAWED...period.
But, the writer of this article has managed to bring race into the mix...as any liberal does, because they cannot make a valid case for the CONTENT of a societal problem...like a CULTURAL one.
He thinks that the death penalty is a tool of RACIAL CONTROL - a way for whites to "defend" themselves from blacks.
If it IS...it's not working as designed, is it?
And I prefer a .45 ACP hollow point as a VERY good defense against such criminals.
Notice I say CRIMINALS and NOT blacks...you see, the percentage of blacks that commit crimes is small compared to the overall numbers...as it is with ANY ethnicity.
The article has some good history attached to it, and cites examples from the south of how crimes were dealt with, mainly against blacks (when the south was mainly run by...wait for it...DEMOCRATS), but saying that TRUE justice is racial in both intent and execution (heh, ironic) is erroneous.
And the proof can be found roaming inner city streets.
Traditionally, the death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst...as it should be, color and race be damned.
Thing is, it's being used less and less, and while what passes for rehabilitation and penitence is a mere shadow of it's former self, this IS sending a message to the hardened criminals...it's gonna take a LOT of nasty crap to get you executed.
I'd wager the author of this article might feel differently if HIS family were subjected to the types of crimes that all-too-often destroy the lives of others.
And "death by old age" for the perpetrator doesn't quite seem enough in those instances, does it?
*** For a story that won't make the front page, we have THIS:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140402/LOCAL/304029935/1002/LOCAL
A Papa John's Pizza delivery girl was robbed at a gas station (on the SOUTH side - where else?) as she was filling up her vehicle Monday (no time cited).
This took place at Fairfield and W. Paulding Rd. (probably the Shell station).
That area's getting run-down these days also.
The robber (who had what appeared to be a gun in his pocket and pointed it at her), was described as dark-skinned, 5'9", wearing a maroon hoodie, black shirt, blue jeans and black shoes.
Police checked the security camera at the station, but none were pointed in the direction of the robbery.
It was not clear what was taken, although the robber demanded money (guess the pizzas stayed behind)..
The perp ran north on Buell Drive. and is still at large.
*** Lastly today, it doesn't take much to see HOW our culture is "evolving", if we can call it that.
While I don't believe the media is to blame AS MUCH as other aspects of our society, it IS a contributing factor.
What is at the heart of societal evolution (or devolution) has to be the cultural facets - those things that properly define a portion of society, and yes, it comes down to ethnicity.
Why are white robbers seemingly caught quicker?
We are not afraid to tell police as much as we can.
Why are black robbers harder to catch?
No one wants to dime on them (they're all good boys and girls), and while that sense of the familial has noble intention, the flawed manner of that also plays against itself and the safety of the community..
Any culture has to have set rules...as well as those other defining parameters such as music, food, dress, and so on.
Those rules have usually been universal in nature...everyone followed them in any culture.
Today...not so much.
It's like they make it up as they go along, and change (adapt) the rules for the situation or times.
One need only go back to the Code of Hammurabi or the Ten Commandments to find such "rules", and discover they are JUST as important to our culture today, as they were when first written.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.