07 October 2014

Tuesday Tidbits...
Seems like another Monday.
If you're looking for an abundance of sunshine today...sorry, you're going to have to climb a LOT higher to see it at length.
The Hoosierland weather will find us with mostly cloudy skies and some scattered showers.
(slated to taper off by tonight).
The high today will be somewhere in the low 60s...
A rather typical autumn day.
So, now that you know how to plan your activities, let's sit back, pour a nice warm cup of our morning beverage of choice and take a peek unto what's been going on elsewhere.
*** First out of the dresser drawer today is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
October 7 - 
We've only ONE event to not and that is BALD AND FREE DAY.
(Captain Picard is loving this, I'm sure)
Make it SO...
But, there are a couple bald guys to recall with fondness...
Yippee-Ki-Yay
I clean my head with a LA-SER.
I just saved a bundle on hair-gel.
Et cetera, et cetera...
You were expecting the MARX brothers?
I was bald BEFORE it was cool.
(and no, we're not  considering Sinead O'Connor)
*** Next up, we've got to show everyone (who wants to see the truth) how many SHOTS FIRED calls we had in Fort Wayne over the last week or so.
"Duck and Cover"
SHOTS FIRED CALLS - 10/01 - 10/05
October 1
14F129445 01:04:09 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 STANDISH DR
14F129807 20:40:23 113 SHOTS FIRED 4600 EUCLID AVE & CAPITOL AVE
October 2
14F129909 02:05:31 113 SHOTS FIRED 4400 ARLINGTON PKWY S & STELLHORN
14F129927 03:45:36 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 DOWNING AVE
14F130191 17:59:58 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 RUDISILL BLVD E
14F130271 20:54:15 113 SHOTS FIRED 1300 PARK AVE
14F130299 22:08:57 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 WAYNE ST W
October 3
14F130758 22:13:38 113 SHOTS FIRED 4000 BOWSER AVE & BAXTER ST
October 4
14F130837 02:29:47 113 SHOTS FIRED 2000 THOMPSON AVE
14F131104 18:07:05 113 SHOTS FIRED 5600 GOSHEN RD
14F131170 20:50:19 113 SHOTS FIRED 5100 JEFFERSON BLVD W
14F131152 20:06:50 58 SHOOTING 400 SUTTENFIELD AVE E
October 5
14F131270 02:25:25 113 SHOTS FIRED 1100 WILDWOOD AVE W
14F131288 03:07:04 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 OAKLAWN CT
(They haven't gotten around to posting YESTERDAY'S calls yet...lazy)
*** And what would this city (which can be called a Crossroad of America) BE, without another high-profile DRUG BUST, hmm?
Here's the lowdown:
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/12-Arrested-In-Synthetic-Marijuana-Raids-Across-Fort-Wayne-278277551.html
We seem to get at least one per year, but this one involves TWELVE perps, and NINE residences in the NE and NW areas of the city.
This has to do with the distribution of synth-matijuana aka "Spice".
(and this is the best picture with all 12 busted...sorry)
Nice to know that law-enforcement got this nailed shut..and with the FEDS involved, I doubt you'll see any "wheeling and dealing".
*** Next, Sure great to see the "Supremes" going AGAINST the WILL OF THE PEOPLE in their latest clusterf$ck decision (to not get involved with the LAW)
Major...FAIL!!!
I'm all for the CIVIL UNION thing with gay couples (and all pertinent perks)...just leave the word MARRIAGE the hell out of it, 'K?
Here's the story link:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/06/us-usa-court-gaymarriage-idUSKCN0HV19020141006
And here is a link to Mark Levin's (correct) take on this with a 12 minute clip from last night's radio show...it as VERY good.
http://therightscoop.com/judicial-tyranny-mark-levin-on-the-supreme-courts-sleazy-as-it-gets-non-ruling-today-on-gay-marriage/
This is just another case of a few dictating policy to the masses...much like some atheist causing such a fuss, so as to BAN a prayer at a commencement for several HUNDRED students...it's all more PC Bullsh$t.
And the people are getting fed ip with it, too.
And here we thought the job OF the Supreme Court WAS to "hear cases" which can have a profound impact upon this nation's people and the laws established by our own Constitution.
Silly us, right?
*** On the lighter side, for all you comic book and superhero lovers out there, tonight is the premiere of THE FLASH on the CW at 8PM
The NEW series on the CW.
(sorry Bill O'Reilly...lol)
Here's the trailer link:
http://cwtv.com/shows/the-flash/
It's being done by those who brought us ARROW (another well-produced series).
I still love the original series starring John Wessley-Shipp, which aired on the heels of the Batman reboot w/ Michael Keaton.
The FIRST series from the late 80s.
Now, perhaps a few team-ups from the DC universe are in the near future?
*** Last back to the bat-cave...as General George S. Patton once noted:
"All real Americans love a winner...and will not tolerate a loser".
Today's world doesn't paint such issues that readily, nor in such stark contrasts as black and white.
Too often, we're assaulted with hundreds of shades of gray, and that will tend to "muddy the waters" when it comes to our decision process concerning winning and losing.
The gay marriage things is but a TACIT victory (for now).
The defeat of the AXIS powers during WW2 was a DECISIVE victory.
And, once in a while, there is a PYRRHIC victory - one that is costlier that one would prefer.
Has America been on the losing side?
Not when compared to everyone else, but since we're such a "young" nation, we don't have the luxury of THAT many centuries of history to either look back upon or learn from.
But, this nation TRIES to do the right thing, and in that, we have succeeded.
The challenges we, as a country face, are growing every year, and what is needed are a few victories in our plus column, to remind us that OUR nation was born out of necessity, and initially governed with a unique method OF that governance.
We need to remember WHY this nation as created, and at what cost.
THAT is the path we need to find again...and stay on.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

06 October 2014

Monday Musings...
Welcome to another (what seems to be) soggy week out here in the Hoosierland.
We've had off and on showers through the weekend, and that trend looks to be following us well into the week.
Had to also run the heat over the weekend...don't want to inside of the house to become as "cool" as it was outside when the temps dipped into the low 40s, right?
Warm and comfy works for us.
Today's weather will see us with mostly cloudy skies and temps climbing only to the 60-degree mark. We will also see some scattered showers throughout the day.
So, since  most "fun" activities will be mainly curtailed, let's pour a nice soothing cup of our favorite morning beverage and see what we've been missing out there, shall we?
*** First out of the starting gate is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature, and we've got some catching-up to do, so here goes...
October 4 -  Saturday was National Golf Day
Our "FORE-FATHERS".
(we used to also call it "Homo-Hockey" and "Hit It and Go Git It" with the first descriptor being wonderfully NON "PC"..)
It was also National Frappe Day...hoped you managed to "frappe" someone.
Admiral Ackbar LOVES 'em.
This has SEVERAL meanings...it could be a milkshake in Britain, a drink similar ro a frappuccino, a frozen fruit dessert akin to a sherbet, or an Italian sweet, crisp pastry (also called angel wings)made from fried dough (beats elephant ears).
So, take yer pick and have at it.
It was also International Frugal Fun Day, and even these days, fun can be had "on the cheap"...if you want to look for it.
October 5 - Sunday was Do Something Nice Day (I observed it by not shooting ANY of the neighboring "locals" - a very nice gesture on MY part).
Oktoberfest ended, too (well, in Germany, anyway).
And, it was also World Teacher's Day (I cooked a roast of Angus beef for Wifey in celebration). You'd think they'd have this day during a SCHOOL WEEK...so the teacher's can get a day off for something worthwhile.
That brings us to NOW...
October 6 -
Today is Come and Take It Day...whatever the hell THAT means (2nd Amendment perhaps?).
Anyone tries taking ANYTHING from our abode get the "treatment" I neglected to pursue on Do Something Nice Day, if you get my drift...lol.
It's also Mad Hatter Day, and I don't know if that means we all need a HAT,to become as "mad" as a hatter, or should be acting like the person from the Wonderland novels
And, it's Physician Assistant Day, for what that's worth.
Go hug an assistant, unless he or she looks like Nurse Ratchet.
Moving on...
*** This is Fire Prevention Week, and we all know what that means.
Sparky the spokes-dog.
The PSAs are abounding with "what to do" and "what we should know"...like I FORGOT from LAST YEAR?
I know none of this is targeted at me...it's all those who so-called "adults" who have the attention span of a 2-month old infant (not that I mean to insult 2-month olds).
He's a goooood boy!
I know when to change out the battery in the smoke alarms, unlike those who REMOVE the batteries from the detectors in public housing and then use said batteries in the making of meth (oh, yes, such residents DO such things).
And every year, we see more smoke detector "giveaways"...makes me wonder.
These days, fire code dictates that ANY new constructs has the smoke alarm (system) WIRED into the house with a battery backup (2 modes of power).
Older houses (like our "Fortress") are basically exempt..unless we'd like to blow several thousand bucks to install such a system (no thank you).
And some residential constructs even have sprinkler systems in them...helluva choice, fire damage OR water damage...insurance companies must LOVE those people.
In any event, don't let common sense take a holiday whenever it comes to dealing with fire prevention in and around your abode.
You guessed it...the SE side of Fort Wayne
Don't do stupid sh*t like the mooks around US love to do...like falling asleep while cooking (at 3AM), or putting things on the stove and then going out for several hours...and never place any clothes over a lampshade to "dry"...that's a special kind of stupid.
A little safety goes a LONG way to keep your house or apartment from winding up on the news.
*** Next up, there were some shots fired over the weekend, and only WPTA covered it.
Here's what is known so far:
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Shots-Ring-Out-Near-Suttenfield-278138381.html
Imagine that...three (obviously black) males walked down the street near 400 E. Suttenfield and Caroline around 2000 hrs Saturday night shooting up one house, and striking another and a vehicle...sounds like a frigging OLD WEST, doesn't it?
Sure glad our FWPD chief has got this under control...NOT!
One girl was slightly injured when shots tore through her house...between 30-40 shell casings were found on scene , in fact.
Three types of caliber rounds were used, according to investigators.
On the SE side...AGAIN!
This area (near SE)  had been plagued by drugs and gang activity for some time, and appeared to be making some progress in returning it to some level of livability for the residents there...guess not.
I have a friend who lives up there, and he told me many times about all the sh*t that goes on, and how frustrated he was with the police in the manner they handled things.
So much for any progress, hmm?
*** Guess the "jury" is back on this one...healthier school lunches basically SUCK, and here's the proof:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20141005/LOCAL/310059899/1002/LOCAL
This stuff tastes like doo-doo...and looks like it, too.
Yep, all that whole grain crap is not liked by students...take THAT, Michelle Obama, and your grass-eating rhetoric.
Whole grain pizza crust, whole grain cookies...and other such "staples" of school lunch lack TASTE...
The word "cardboard" comes to my mind...LOL.
Well, many kids DO get a free lunch, so they can't really gripe...or can they?
Schools are tossing out tens of thousands of bucks worth of food that is NOT being eaten (paid for by taxpayers)...that's a fact.
Yeah, the KIDS hate YOUR crap, too...
Maybe "Mrs Da Prezx" can get away with such garbage under her (taxpayer-funded) roof with her family (Obummer sneaks fast food under his waistline...we know that), but you can't fool kids and what they LIKE (and will eat), can you? Hell, I STILL hate cauliflower, and brussel sprouts
*** Last back to the garden today...have you ever noticed how more and more people just don't seem to have the sense they were born with?
Think about it...
People are doing LESS for themselves, and that HAS to translate to not THINKING for themselves.
That can be a dangerous prospect.
It's bad enough when people stop DOING, but when they stop THINKING...well, that cna lead to electing a president based on "coolness" rather than policy, or it can lead a city to develop it's downtown to the exclusion of the rest of the city.
And the sad part, it's the all the John and Jane Does of America who re doing this...
It's NOT any of the elitists...THEY are still doing and thinking for themselves (usually ONLY for themselves)
Everyone ELSE has to get back on the self-reliance bandwagon...and quickly, too.
We all have to begin to do (more) for ourselves, so that we can effectively do for others when the need or cause arises.
This whole dependence on others or a government to take care of us has to end, if for only two reasons:
1 - That's NOT the job of any government.
2 - We've done well for ourselves in the past
There are other reasons, but these are the most profound.
Our nation was predicated upon such tenets and I feel we can reclaim them, of we make a decision to do so, and crawl out from under the thumbs of both over-intrusive government and our over-dependence of technology.
We CAN do for ourselves...and we should.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there,America.

03 October 2014

Friday Follies...
Here we are...at the weekend, soggy as it seems to be this morning.
They "say" there's a chance of rain today (been there seen that)...and a possibility of a thunderstorm (ditto on that, too), so it looks like if the sun WILL shine today, it's gonna happen around 35,000 ft rather than here at ground  level.
The Hoosierland weather looks to we WET today...with whatever high we're expected to be in the morning (mid-60s).
Temps will drop throughout the day settling in to the mid-50s by dinnertime. So there 'ta go, then.
In the meantime, grab yourselves a cup of your favorite morning beverage and we'll get this bad boy stared...
*** First out of the umbrella factory today is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" segment.
October 3 -  Today is Techies Day...great, just what we need (more often than we'd like).
NOT the "techie" I had in mind...
I'm hoping it celebrates those geeks who can figure all this crap out and fix it when it goes wrong for the rest of us "peons".
--It's also World Smile Day...like we have much to smile about anymore...but hey, it we take a moment to check out the things others dismiss, we might find ourselves smiling.
Also, if you do go around smiling for no damn reason today, it WILL make others wonder what the hell you're up to.
--And, it's (I don't make this sh*t up)...VIRUS APPRECIATION DAY.
((...rolls eyes...))
Appreciation?
Appreciate us, or we will make you sick.
WHAT THE F$CK FOR?
How TIMELY is THIS one, gang? Rght in the middle of these viral attacks - both physical AND "virtual".
If it's not Ebola, it's SARS...or MERS...or the next strain of flu, or that enterovirus D68 (makes me wonder whatever happened to the previous 67 A through C series???), it's something else we don't need.
Viruses...'ya hate 'em, right?
Naturally, the email spams we ALL receive testify to the lack of ability of most software to rud us of potential viruses, too. That's why computer manufacturers gave us that cute DELETE button.
So, enjoy the day, smile a lot, thank a techie and avoid any virus...kapeesh?
Last, but certainly not least...for our Jewish brethren...today at sunset begins the Hebrew holiday of YOM KIPPUR. Here's the WIKI on the back-story:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur
It's the yearly Jewish Day of Atonement.
Blessings be on you and your families.
Moving on....
*** Wanna pose a question to your faithful followers...are you "better off" than you were 6 years ago?
Not with OUR money, you don't, Bub.
Our fearless leader seems to believe we all ARE. Then again, I always thought he lived in Fantasy Land, while the rest of us slug it out in Realville.
Now, you have to come at this question in a couple ways...
Overall is the first way...taking everything into account, and I mean everything...everywhere.
The other way is by looking at individual aspects to your life, such as the cost of consumables, replacement items and new items you may have had to buy, and this includes ALL food stuffs (groceries as well s fast food or restaurant settings), clothing, cleaning supplies, toiletries...all iof it.
According to "da prez", our economy has NEVER been better. Really?
REALLY???
Then why does our DOLLAR continue to purchase LESS, while prices keep climbing?
Why are housing sales (new constructs and previously-occupied ones) continues to falter?
Why is production down?
There is a bright side (for the moment)...fuel prices are down to around $3.10 a gallon for regular (wonder who's tapping the reserves?).
I mean, we haven't increased drilling (on or off shore), and haven't opened ANY new refineries, so why the drop, all of a sudden, especially with all this turmoil in the Middle East?
We've seen in the past where so much as an ARAB FART would make gas prices spike markedly, so this makes me wonder when all the facts go against the past results...what is going on?
As far as the economy goes, I also believe that a level of SAFETY or security goes far to ensure that any economy does well...and by the looks of our national security, I have my doubts.
This will help everyone "forget"...
When an Ebola patient can fly into the USA with symptoms, go to he ER, be given a pill and then be told to go home...that's troublesome.
Same goes for an unprotected southern border, where God knows what diseases can come across with impunity.
Add to that the reluctance of parents to get their kids vaccinated (for school), and we can wind up hip-deep in crap in no time, and that's just from a biological standpoint.
We have an AGING power grid which is prone to failure for the least little problem, domestic and foreign automakers recalling damn near EVERY vehicle they've made for the last several years, and although we're being TOLD that crime (across the board) is DOWN, the LEVEL of violence for those crimes IS on an INCREASE.
Oh, and in case you thought otherwise, heroin deaths are on the RISE (also) across the nation...who'da thunk it?
I think a good enough case for not being AS better off than we were 6 years ago can be made...and quite easily.
I've onlt touched on the obvious aspects...it all comes down to personal issues for each of us, right?
*** The FWIA had it's first flight to Philly yesterday...so where the hell are my CHEESESTEAKS, TASTYKAKES, and SCRAPPLE, anyway?
Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2014/10/02/new-flights-debut-at-fwa-thursday-afternoon/
I mean if we are going to have 3 flights a day, someone should consider bringing such delicacies to us (meaning me) here in the Hoosierland, hmm?
Hoosiers now get to see this sign.
As long as they keep the Philly crime in Philly, I'll be happy, though...got plenty of our OWN right here in River City, my friends.
*** If anyone had concerns in The Fort...never fear. The DOWNTOWN of Fort Wayne gets the gold mine when it comes to development...the rest of us (as usual) get the "shaft".
Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2014/10/02/map-downtown-development-over-the-years/
The map they have on the link shows all the projects over JUST the last decade...and as the first person to comment said "Keep it up"..
Seriously? Keep WHAT up?
The spending for stuff downtown while other parts of the city go to hell in a damn hand-basket?
I always say that "ANY city is only as good as it's WORST area"...so there 'ya are...the TRUTH for a change, and it didn't come from anyplace "downtown". 
I look at it this way - if the REST of the city were AS prosperous as certain "sections' are, then the downtown would be a no-brainer...it WOULD thrive (on it's own), because the city would have a lot of tax funds to spread around, more people with a vested interest in their part of the city wanting more things downtown (not just the elitist crowd), and decent politicians all over the city working with their constituents (and not a good old boy network in place).
This could happen...
But we DON'T have that here...and may not for some time
Although, that downtown is damn nice (for those whose pockets it lines)
*** Last back to the service station today...real progress for a city SHOULD mean that the MANY become the prosperous...not the few.
Self-service to or for any minority, be they defined by race, social class, economic status, religion, or anything else hurts everyone OTHER than those being benefited...that's a fact.
In a business, when an employer cares ONLY about the stockholders or his OWN wealth, everyone down the line gets hurt, especially those
"in the trenches" that MADE the wealth for that company in the first damn place...and usually, the company FAILS, tossing too many into unemployment lines.
Greed is what happens when people think ONLY of themselves, and it's closely followed by PRIDE.
Greed can be used for good, IF greed is directed at making oneself better, but even then, care has to be applied so as not to harm others along the way.
Too often, people get confused in life and redirect their minds and abilities to goals, tossing the cost of obtaining it to the four winds.
Life isn't easy ( it's called CHALLENGING), because we're not supposed to sit back and  fritter away the years. We should be always wanting better for ourselves and our families, and yes, even our friends and co-workers.
They should also be wanting the same...but we know today's society won't allow that...to many "diversions".
Our job is to stay focused on the here and now, and if we can convince others to do likewise, all the better...for everyone.
Have yourselves very good weekend.
Be well, make a difference to someone today, an as always...
Stay SAFE out there, America.