Tuesday Tidbits...

Well, this is certainly a better start to the day than it was yesterday...I can see the SUN coming up over the houses.
And, it's NOT raining (that will happen later on).
The down side is that it's a tad on the "cool" side this morning with temps dipping back down into the 30s.
The REST of our Hoosierland weather will have us  with partly cloudy skies, gusty winds (not breezes) and temps topping out in mid-50s.
Expect good kite-flying weather, though...plenty of wind out there (sounds like politicians in our neighborhood...lol)
So, go get your cup or glass of whatever strikes your fancy (already have my coffee riding "shotgun"), and let's see what's been on my mind and what is happening elsewhere...
*** First off of the sidewalk is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
April 21 - 
---Today is KINDERGARTEN DAY.

Never went to the "K" myself...no need for it in my day...it was purely VOLUNTARY in nature and not "required" as it has become these days.
However, when I did enter the 1st grade, I already KNEW my alphabet, could print letters, knew numbers and could add, subtract, multiply and divide.
I guess Mom was a bit ahead of the curve when it came to "home-schooling" way back in 1957.
*** Next up is our salute to chronic stupidity (and those who practice it daily) as we take a look at ALL the "shots fired" calls for the FWPD, as well as the armed robberies that took place over the past week:

SHOTS FIRED and ARMED ROBBERIES - 4/13 - 4/19
===========================================
APRIL 13 - 
15F043727 20:10:55 113 SHOTS FIRED 4100 REED ST
15F043420 07:01:35 53 ARMED ROB 1300 HUESTIS AVE
APRIL 14 -
(NO shots fired and NO armed robberies)
What? was this some sort of HOLIDAY or something for the mooks?
APRIL 15 - 
15F044597 19:25:49 113 SHOTS FIRED 3300 SANIBEL DR
15F044606 19:34:35 113 SHOTS FIRED 1900 FREEMAN ST & TAYLOR ST
15F044670 22:05:31 113 SHOTS FIRED 8600 LAKESIDE DR
15F044246 00:15:23 53 ARMED ROB 2700 CANTERBURY BLVD
15F044301 07:30:18 53 ARMED ROB 1100 LEWIS ST E
APRIL 16 -
15F045073 20:46:09 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 MADISON ST
15F045125 22:50:18 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 SOUTHWAYNE AVE & HOME AVE
(NO armed robberies) 
APRIL 17 -
15F045163 00:51:31 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 RIDGEWOOD DR
15F045174 01:45:22 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 COLUMBIA AVE
15F045199 04:10:23 113 SHOTS FIRED 4400 LAFAYETTE ST S & CONGRESS AVE
15F045204 04:57:10 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 KILLEA ST
15F045548 18:54:53 113 SHOTS FIRED 5300 WINTER ST
15F045627 21:19:29 113 SHOTS FIRED 4700 WEISSER PARK AVE
15F045652 22:05:33 113 SHOTS FIRED 2000 PAULINE ST
15F045658 22:06:57 113 SHOTS FIRED 3000 BROADWAY & WILDWOOD AVE W
15F045659 22:07:20 113 SHOTS FIRED 2000 ELECTRIC AVE & BROWN ST
(NO armed robberies)
APRIL 18 - 
15F045795 03:44:58 113 SHOTS FIRED 5700 STATE BLVD E & GRANDEUR DR
15F045828 06:55:21 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 TAYLOR ST & WASHINGTON RD N
15F045829 07:07:50 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 HOME AVE
15F046130 20:14:22 113 SHOTS FIRED 4400 DICKE RD
15F046162 21:20:29 113 SHOTS FIRED 3600 WARSAW ST
15F046166 21:29:34 113 SHOTS FIRED 3200 DIPLOMAT DR
15F046184 21:48:01 113 SHOTS FIRED 1300 PUTNAM ST & POINSETTE DR
15F046187 21:48:25 113 SHOTS FIRED 1600 FRANKLIN AVE & HUFFMAN ST
15F046190 21:49:16 113 SHOTS FIRED 1600 ST MARYS AVE
15F046215 22:59:16 113 SHOTS FIRED 6000 LANDSDOWNE DR
(NO armed robberies)
APRIL 19 - 
15F046352 05:47:10 113 SHOTS FIRED 1400 PONTIAC ST E
15F046611 21:05:30 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 LENOX AVE W
15F046645 23:29:41 113 SHOTS FIRED 500 FOURTH ST W
15F046358 06:11:02 53 ARMED ROB 900 MCKINNIE AVE
15F046646 23:35:04 53 ARMED ROB 1100 HUGH ST
==========================================
Another thing the media isn't forthcoming with...there have been almost a rape per day over the week, and THEFTS and BURGLARIES have skyrocketed.
Fights are again becoming a common occurrence with the advent of nicer weather.
Moving on...
***  Next, it appears we have yet ANOTHER (new) paper carrier, and this guy is another one of those "no pride in my job" kinda guy.

Over the past week, our paper, which SHOULD be delivered on our TOP STEP (per instructions to the Journal-Gazette for YEARS), has been found in the flower beds alongside the step.
Yesterday, the paper was a bit wet, and today, we lucked out, because the beds were merely DAMP from yesterday's rain.
Plus the paper was not wrapped in plastic.
Now, it would seem that EVERY time we get a "newbie", he has to be "taught" how to properly deliver a stinking newspaper.
I can see WHY subscriptions are DOWN as much as they are - with service that sucks, who can blame anyone, right?
Now, I suppose we could cancel it and read it online, but I like having that TANGIBLE paper in my hands while having my coffee.

After 3 years - we've come full circle, AGAIN.

Sue me, I;m old-fashioned in that regard, and I'll be "splainin" WHY a little bit farther down the post.
*** Next up, I admit to having missed that "record day" that took place over this past weekend.

Here's s story about this continued "resurgence" in VINYL records:
http://www.journalgazette.net/entertainment/music/Celebrating-vinyl-6140663
Yeah, there IS still a demand for those tried and true vinyl records, be they LPs, 45s or even (if you can find them) 78s.
And I have my stash of vinyl, small as it is, but it's a pretty decent "collection".

That's a good size poster, too.

I have the ORIGINAL STAR WARS soundtracks from the first three flicks. The FIRST album was a DOUBLE album that came with a POSTER.
The original Simon and Garfunkel BOOKENDS album ALSO came with a large poster.
Those were the days when you could actually READ the album "liner notes", which often included the LYRICS to all the songs.

The album folds open for the lyrics.

When was the last time you got a POSTER with a CD?
Or how EASY is it read liner notes in the CD fold out cover?
If more vinyl of modern music were available, I'd buy them.
*** And that brings me to the center of this shrubbery maze...the "changing of the guard" when it comes to MEDIA, and by that I mean the way we LISTEN to music...or even READ books these days.

Obsolete before it gets old...oh, joy.

A lot of things have changed, and you know me, I question everything, so I constantly wonder WHY we have to keep "changing" stuff from one form of media to another, without regard for the former items.
Granted, 8-tracks SUCKED...period
And cassette tapes can break - same can be said for VIDEO tapes. There is an inherent problem with such a "flexible"manner to record or play back.
Hence the coming of CDs and DVDs.

And we were told THIS was THE tech to have.

They're a lot LONGER lasting (and go farther when you fling 'em in a rage...lol)
Our technology never stops "advancing", but to just toss the "use to bes" by the roadside isn't a good way to go in the process.

Records are STILL big business, as the story cites.
Luckily, I NEVER got rid of my records OR my turntable, which runs as well as it did when new.
But, when it comes to VIDEO, that's another story.
Try and find a BETA machine that works these days...or a NEW one...not gonna happen.
VHS machines are following right along in this...hard to find, and certainly not being manufactured any longer.
Can hardly find ANY cassette players worth a damn as well.
But yet, there are companies that STILL produce stereo TURNTABLES...go figure.

Even the CD realm is taking a hit these days, as in not EVERYTHING is going on CD.
And, not everything is going to DVD, either.
NOW, we have streaming audio or video...I TUNES, MP3, and all the other assorted crap.
It's like you HAVE to have a computer to listen to music...or play the radio...or watch TV.
Netflix is starting their own series, which means if you DON'T have Netflix...you're boned.

Helluva way to coerce people to get their particular service (in addition to all the OTHER services you have or must get which become quite CUMULATIVE in nature in no time at all).
News papers are online, TV shows, music ALL on the Internet.
But what happens IF that Internet service is interrupted for some "strange" reason?
YOU...HAVE...NOTHING...AT...ALL...period.
It's like I have said many times before - they WANT you to become SO dependent upon the computer for everything in your life, that you have NO control over it any longer.
Now, I think the tech is cool in it's OWN right.
It does make a good amendment TO all things tangible like books records, and such.
But to come to rely ONLY on that as THE source for reading or music or TV just sems wrong in many ways.
*** Last back to the star chamber...remember when TV was FREE?

You turned the set on and PRESTO, all the local channels were THERE, and somehow, we managed to be OK with that.
You might have to adjust the "rabbit ears" or turn the knob on the "Tenna-Rotor")

And remember going to the LIBRARY to borrow some books to read?
And turning those pages were not that much of a chore, right?
Do you recall making your OWN mix tapes from when you went driving or just for the hell of it?
It's getting harder to find any of these things...if at all.
There is NO more "free" television...now you pay, and usually out the wazoo, for cable or satellite, or internet.
The feds snatched up ALL the ANALOG bands, so even to watch LOCAL channels requires you to get one of those "digital" boxes to add on to the TV
Do we REALLY NEED all the tech JUST to listen to a favorite song?
Thank God the radio is still free (for the time being), but media we used to listen to that music on "our" terms is still changing.
When I want to PURCHASE a soundtrack, which SHOULD be readily available (like from the movie The Avengers - great music, BTW), I'm very hard-pressed to find a lousy CD of the music. at the price one would find most any other CD.

A "limited" number produced?

It's like they want you to purchase a download for some sync device...sorry, this fish isn't biting at that "hook".
We are all being corralled into certain, specific technologies...and to what end?
We're not all made of money, trust me on this one.

Uh, oh...that  can't be good.

Soon, all these computers will be "running the house", and that doesn't sit well with me.
When people lose the ability to do for THEMSELVES, they become less of a human being...that's just how I feel.
We're getting farther from personal interaction as well, and it shows at EVERY age.
We do better when we do FOR ourselves (and each other), rather than allow some THING to run the show (and us).
I will remain fairly old'fashioned in such ways, if only to PRESERVE that which we seem to be losing.
But, that's just me.

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