Rolling Towards The Weekend...

Welcome to another chilly morning out here in the Midwest.
A freeze-warning is in effect today until 0900 hrs (and again tonight), in case you were thinking of planting some flowers (or have already done so).
The rest of our Hoosierland weather will have us with a high today on nearly 50 degrees, mostly CLEAR skies (seeing the sun rising outside), and much milder breezes, as opposed to all those gusty winds we;'e had (which tends to blow all the local litter onto our property for some strange reason), so you DON'T need to weigh down the small pets (or children).
Now, let's get a nice soothing beverage parked beside us, as we take a look at what else has been going on...
*** First out of the laundry chute is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do, and what is right to do."

This was spoken by Potter Stewart (who?) - (23 January 1915 - 7 December 1985)..
He was an American Associate Supreme Court justice, appointed under the Eisenhower administration
He is best noted for his major contributions to criminal justice reforms, and here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potter_Stewart
While not a long read, there are some very interesting points regarding Potter's tenure as a Justice, most notablly his view on CIVIL RIGHTS, as well as the FOURTH AMENDMENT.
In a dissenting opinion in the case of Ginsburg v The United States - 383 U.S. 463 (1966), he said that "Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime."
Now, before 1967, 4th Amendment protections applied specifically to notions of property: possessory geographical locations like apartments, or physical objects. Stewart's opinion, as cited in Katz v United States, established that the 4th Amendment "protects PEOPLE, not places."

This case involved illegal wiretaps, and that the government was "seizing" the words of the caller.
The reach of this Amendment also extended to a person's REASONABLE privacy expectation, with the Amendment no longer defined solely by property limits.
Pretty good read, if you want to understand the scope of our Constitution.
Moving on...
*** And it's time for our 'What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
April 23 - 
---Today is LOVER'S DAY.

Kissy-Clouds

Has to do with the death anniversary of Cervantes.
(nothing about being loved though...that kinda bites)
---It's also NATIONAL ZUCCHINI BREAD DAY.

(one of the few veggies that makes a decent bread)
---And, it's TAKE A CHANCE DAY.

Why jump out of a perfectly GOOD plane?

(Heh, I take a chance every time I venture outside our "Fortress" down in the ghettohood...why have JUST ONE day for it?0
---It's also WORLD LABORATORY DAY.

...But does it make a good mix with RUM?

I tend to view the world AS A LABORATORY (of sorts), and I've already seen those (passing for people) that belong in a Darwinian PETRIE DISH...lol
*** Next up, looks like local police nabbed that fire-bomber.
Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Firebombing--confrontation-bring-charges-6244940
This perp's got some nice anger-management issues.
Donald L. Buchanan, 46, of the 4300 block of Lillie St faces preliminary charges of detonating a destructive device, intimidation, arson, and 2 counts of invasion of privacy for his actions.
Josh L. Bruner, 25, of the 4400 block of Leesburg Rd, is also involved but not in the firebombing.
He was pissed over the fire-bombing of that house.
(as I would be).
His part is that of an assailant against Buchanan with charges of battery by means of a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, residential entry, and pointing a firearm.
Gotta love life in the ghettohood, don'cha?
*** Next, a volcano in Chile blows it's top.
Here's the story:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-32425370

A lotta crap into a lotta air there.

Now, you're probably wondering WTH has this got to do with US here in the USA?
Well, let's take into account that Caibuco volcano is tossing TONS of ash into the air, as it erupts.
And, all that ash isn't falling back to earth immediately, is it?
Much of the particular matter stays in the atmosphere, and has a tendency to cut down the amount of sunlight reaching the planet.
Eventually, it will come back down, but never right away, and that means the potential for "climate change".
Yes, our climate is ALWAYS CHANGING, so this term is pretty much taken for granted.
This volcano eruption, as well as others around the globe would seem to bear witness that the earth might NOT be heating up like some are trying to BS us into believing.

If I hear one more leftard talk about global WARMING...

It might be causing just the opposite effect; that of COOLING . It HAS happened in the past...several times. Look it up.
Just thought you might want to know about that...lol.
*** Next up, all those renovations at various FWCS schools is costing LESS than expected.

Here's the story link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150423/NEWS/150429860/1005
Now that's something we don't hear every day, is it? Projects coming in UNDER budget?
Guess we can toss out a "wow" here, huh?
*** Next, a study in paying attention while driving.
Here's the link:
http://wane.com/2015/04/22/cars-winding-up-in-construction-zone-prompts-changes/
I've driven this stretch of road most every week, and the construction's been SLOW to completion. I will say that much.
But, I have never encountered ANYTHING that would cause Wifey and I to get "stuck" in the area...it's been plainly marked for WEEKS.
However, if you're otherwise occupied while driving, I can see where it may present a problem.
This is the stretch of Lower Huntington Rd that passes by Willow Crack...I mean CREEK Crossing Apartments (our former residence that was broken into way back in 1997)
The area is in less better repair than when we lived there, that's for sure.
One might even say that crime is rising around that part of town.
On the other side of LHR, the street is nice and smooth, but you can tell the area is in a state of "flux" as far as the demographics are concerned.
Gone is the one man who used to live along LHR, across from WWC Apts who owned a vintage pea-green Model A Ford - now replaced by cars that I would see along our streets here in the ghettohood. And when you start to see MORE cars than the garage AND driveway can handle (combined), that says a lot about the residents.

As I said, I don't have issues with the construction, other than the fact that it's been taking WAY too long to complete. It's not an impediment to average drivers.
*** Last back to the outhouse...I'm always keen to say that around our part of town "If it's one damn thing...it's another".

Gone are the days when you did NOT have to concern yourself with constant security...or litter...or noise...or bad neighbors.
We've had ALL the aforementioned societal banes with us for some time (here), and there seems to be no end to the cretins that perpetrate such behaviors.
The city wants to ignore such things, because they think it'll all just go away on it's own.
That's not gonna happen.
If anything it's gonna spread, and it's started to do so for the last several years.
It would be nice to not have to wonder if today will be the day a bullet comes through a window, or another fight will break out on our lawn after midnight. It would nice to enjoy what you have, rather than wonder if you even want to do anything to improve the property, because the money IN to any project will NOT translate to better VALUE of that property.

And, it would be nice to not have to hear the "tales" of other peoples' lives, due to THEIR loud mouths screaming, and their loud music thumping to all hours.
In essence, it would be nice to have the police take charge and do what we pay them to do, and it's not chase after every dumbass radio call.
The sheer number of "911 hang-ups" is enough to make your eyes bleed...and that's every stinking day!
We seem to have more UNFOUNDED calls that ones the police can actually act upon and resolve to some measure.
As always the PEOPLE are to blame for all of this.
The streets, houses, trees, and lawns have not made this area a blight all by themselves. They had HELP...of the two-footed variety, and until or unless THAT problem is addressed, decent folks will be stuck with the proverbial "bad hand".
They say you play the cards you're dealt in life, and that's fine and dandy...as long as THREE things don't happen:

Gotta learn to read your "opponent", too.

1) The deck is stacked AGAINST you
2) The dealer is drawing from the BOTTOM of that deck
3) Other players have ACES up their sleeves
Life should be as honest a game as you can find, because you only get ONE go-around "at the table", and you have to play it the best way you can.
Win, lose, or draw...right?

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