Humpday Happenings...

Did we just have a day WITHOUT any precipitation in Indiana yesterday?
And, is that going to continue throughout TODAY, as well?
WTF did we do WRONG???
Seriously, we finally got some time to dry the hell out here...kinda nice, actually.
The rest of our Hoosierland weather will see us with temps reaching into (only) the upper 70s, with partly cloudy skies and there is even a mild breeze out there this morning.
But, never fear, for tomorrow, the rain rolls back in, and the forecast says  a good SOAK - we may even break the record for June rainfall.
In any event, let's cross that bridge when we come to it (and hope it's not washed away by the rain). Grab a cup or glass of midweek bliss as we see what else has been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the cauldron is our WHO SAID THAT? quote of the week:
"Cernsorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself."
Now, I'm sure with this Confederate flag fiasco we have going on, this might seem a pertinent aspect to ponder.
Moving on...
*** Next up, we have our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
June 24 -
---Today is SWIM A LAP DAY

"Woof???"

(with the receding rivers, that's gonna be a bit harder
Now, if we're talking LAP DANCE....
*** Next up, the FWPD catches up with a known gang member (who doesn't want to give himself up).

Here's the "4-1-1":
http://wane.com/2015/06/23/known-gang-member-arrested-after-standoff-with-police/

It's the "coolah" for Ku-La.

The arrest took place in the 3200 block of S. Warsaw St. (not a nice area any longer, thanks to the city) yesterday afternoon.
Taken into custody was one Ku-La Lwin, 21, and  after tear gas and a flash-bang failed to bring this thug out, police stacked up and entered the house, making the arrest.
Other residents there had exited earlier per police demands.
There were reports of weapons in the house.
Lwin had an active warrant for failure to appear in court for a drug charge earlier this month.
Unless you can nail his sorry ass on some FEDERAL charge (and turn him over to the Feds) , not that much jail time will come of this.
Bet he's back out in no time again. (knowing OUR prosecutor - the Blonde Phantom)...again.
*** Now THIS perp is of that SPECIAL kind of stupid. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/50-year-old-caughtafter-hiding-in-store-7358478

"Gotcha"

Hiding IN a store after it closes...and he thought those INFRARED devices wouldn't pick up his MOVEMENT...ROFLMAO!
I used to install such devices...they can detect MICE (whatta moron).
It's people like this that make everyone else look SO damn good.
*** And the fallout over the Confederate flag continues...
(you could hear ALL those knees jerking for MILES)

Here's the latest from the "bid-ness" world:
http://www.journalgazette.net/business/Retailers-pull-Confederacy-items-7356223

Yep, all the lemmings are in lockstep once again...and it started with WAL-MART.
Now, SEARS, K-MART, SPENCER GIFTS, and EBAY has followed suit.
NO MORE Confederate flag merchandise...what did I say just yesterday?
Y'know...I'll say it again - I STILL wonder how this would be shaking out if the church shooter had posed in a picture with an AMERICAN FLAG???
Of course, you realize that the decision OF these businesses "were consistent with the president's position"

The MD BMV will have fun "recalling" THESE

Oh, well...THAT explains it all. We now know which businesses are goose-stepping along with our "fearless leader".
(that's the SAME president that used the word N----R on cable tv news)
And, as Chris Martin commented here...do we not have a LOT more important things in this country to worry about'
I agree whole-hearedly...but I suppose none of THOSE things are as "entertaining" or can fire up the low-information masses near as quickly.
THAT is what (sadly) sells these days...sensationalistic controversy.

That flag is BANNED - take that off NOW.

Screw any aspect of truth...who needs THAT getting in the way, right?
(I do, as do many others - kinda fond of truth)
Of all this crap WAS about the "rebel" flag,why wasn't this done AGES ago? Why now?
Wonder what the NEXT "ban" will be???
(How's about big-ass fireworks, huge rims, loud car stereos, littering and stupid people - now that WOULD be a good start...just tossing it out there)

This all sure smells like a virulent form of censorship to me.
*** Next up, a rather sad not about someone whose music I have enjoyed for DECADES.
Noted composer James Horner has been killed in a plane crash.

And he was a "contemporary" of mine - only a year younger, but wrote some of the BEST film score music on the planet.
Here's this WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Horner
And here is the story about his untimely death:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-horner-dead-titanic-composer-804365

I first came to know about Horner when I saw the second movie he scored - a little known space adventure based loosely on The Magnificent Seven (which was originally based upon Kurosawa's Seven Samurai) called BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (1980) which had a decent cast.
The movie starred Richard Thomas, Robert Vaughn, George Peppard, John Saxon, and Sybil Danning.
This was a Roger Conman flick, with special effects by another "newbie" - James Cameron.
But the MUSIC in this "cult" movie made it better than the scrupt.
Later, Horner would go on to score the most popular of the Star Trek Movies - THE WRATH OF KHAN.

If you read the WIKI, you'll find a LOT of movies YOU have seen that were scored by James Horner...I know I've seen damn near all of them.
Of the contemporary composers in my lifetime, he is always ranked in the top ten, along with notables as John Williams, Alan Silvestri, and the late Jerry Goldsmith (all huge favorites of mine). I personally loved the score he wrote for Disney's THE ROCKETEER (1991)...fantastic.
Sure, there are many other composers today, but they haven't had the popularity or accolades that those I have mentioned have enjoyed.
Horner also wrote the score for such "epics" as TITANIC and AVATAR (again with James Cameron...always a good fit with those two) Talk about money-makers.
So, next time you watch GLORY, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, or FIELD OF DREAMS...or even BRAVEHEART...that's Horner's music you hear in the background.
I can only guess as to what other music we might have heard from such a talent.

The music lives on...

You left us too soon, James...but your "heart" will go on forever (as the song says).
*** Last back to the orchestra pit..as someone who grew up on a myriad of music types (from Sinatra to Elvis, to the Ink Spots to Richard Rogers...and a lot in-between), I was taught the value of music.

I'd like to think I was brought up to appreciate good music.
I spent my time in school choir, performed in our first high school "Broadway" show, sang and played in two church groups, and through all that, never lost my appreciation for CLASSICAL music.

As I'm find of saying, it was ALL those LOONEY TUNES playing the "classics" while Bugs foiled Elmer that got me started.
I've been to a couple classical concerts (like to attend more), and I found them enthralling.
Same goes for good rock...like David Bowie  (an artist who can tell a story in song).
But through all this, you always come back to those classical composers, or more specifically, the ORCHESTRAL music.
There's something about hearing ALL the instruments, and in such harmonious unison.
So very diverse are all those instruments, too...strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion.
Not bad by themselves, but TOGETHER, they produce the music that can evoke every emotion of the human soul.

That's why I listen to soundtrack music in movies...specific "themes" that whenever you hear them later on, get you to recall the movie itself, or perhaps a point in one's life.
I can work with that...and, if we all look carefully enough, we can find a direct parallel to the HUMAN CONDITION in an orchestral setting.
Maybe we could learn from that...and better ourselves...what a concept, and all because of a "universal language".

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