07 November 2015

Sorry about the "New Look"...
This is the closest I could come and get things AS complete as they once were...
Some elements of my navbar went missing today after I logged on, so I TRIED to fix things...even uploaded a copy (I have two) of my OLD template...zip, zero, nada, nothing worked.
Why THAT has suddenly gone M.I.A. is anyone's guess.
And you kinda need it, if you want to search the blog, sign in, sign out, create a new post...yeah, that IMPORTANT stuff.
So I guess I'll be muddling by with this craptastic version of what my former blog (or damn near TEN years) looked like.
Bear with me...I will try and contact blogger and see what can be done.
Right now, the sign OUT part is still missing, as are the quick-edit "screwdriver" icons. Gotta do things the "long" way for a while.
At least people can still post here (I think).
Let me know if you have any problems.
Thanks for bearing with this clusterf$ck...if BLOGGER hadn't screwed up in the FIRST place and lost my navbar, we'd still have the comfort of the familiar here.
Bobby G.
((Update - 1515 hrs ))
I managed to get BACK the COMPLETE NAVBAR...it WAS a GOOGLE/BLOGGER issue, as usual (when you block 3rd party cookies to make the pages load faster, you apparently kill the navbar - did not know that, nor did anyone else). It was trial and error (lots of the latter). Now, I don't know if my OLD template is intact with everything I USED to have on it as it was saved back in 2012) so I will keep this one for a spell and see what happens. I may mess about with the layout over the weekend. Crossing my fingers on this. I did manage to amaze myself on this one.
Bobby G.

06 November 2015

Friday Follies...
Ah, THERE'S the rain we were waiting on, but it won't be lasting that far into the weekend.
Better to get the crap weather OUT of the way so as not to muck up the REST of the time we so cherish, hmm?
partly cloudy and very breezy conditions that will give way to clearing skies by afternoon and temps that will be dropping more into the seasonal realms as we reach a high today of around 53 degrees. Actually our high was the overnight temperature of around 64..
I do prefer light jacket and/or sweater weather...not too hot, not too cold...just right - "Goldilocks" weather, one might say. More raking is in my future...
So, what say we get our cup or glass of Friday fortitude poured and parked nearby as we see what is and what shall be over the next 72 hours...
*** First out of the root-cellar is our "What the hell happens today, Bob? feature:
November 6 -
---Today is NATIONAL NACHO DAY
(maybe they should celebrate this in MEXICO instead...it's NOT  traditional American food, is it?)
---And, it's NATIONAL SAXOPHONE DAY
(play it if 'ya got it, folks)
*** And since it s a Friday, let's see what the weekend has in store for us all:
November 7 -
---Saturday is NATIONAL BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS DAY
(oh yeah, the almonds make ALL the difference)
---And it's NATIONAL CANINE LYMPHOMA AWARENESS DAY
(hey, bad things happen to good pets, too)
November 8 -
---Sunday is NATIONAL CAPPUCCINO DAY
(Isn't that a city in Italy? Or a monkey?)
---It's also NATIONAL HARVEY WALLBANGER DAY
( I can count all of these I've had on ONE hand...they're okay if made right)
---It's NATIONAL PARENTS AS TEACHERS DAY
(ah, if ONLY we had a lot more that were...educators would have a better crop of students)
---And, it's NATIONAL STEM/STEAM DAY
(google it up, it looks to be a kids science thing)
---And on Sunday, for all you fellow WHOVIANS, the BBC America channel will have a marathon of Doctor Who episodes that feature our favorite nemesis - THE DALEKS.
Day Of The Daleks is what it's all about (which trumps any day of the dead) and is airing a Tom Baker episode ( Genesis of the Daleks)
And they are "eco-friendly"...LOL.
Be there or be lost in the vortex.
There you go then...all sorts of things to keep you OUT of trouble.
Moving on...
*** Next, if you grew up in the 60's and watched ANY TV, you probably saw some of the work of George Barris, a noted car customizer.
He passed away yesterday at the age of 89, but left us some great cars and memories.
Here''s his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Barris_(auto_customizer)
Still a cool ride.
Wonderfully bizarre...and cool.
Just plain bad-ass!
Yes indeed, the BATMOBILE was one of these customized cars, as was the MUNSTER COACH and the BLACK BEAUTY from the original Green Hornet series (starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee).
Not bad for a GTO
He also created the Beverly Hillbillies "truck", the fictional 1928 "Porter" for the short-lived series My Mother The Car, as well as the Monkeemobile and the updated versions of  K.I.T.T. for the Knight Rider series...just to name a few.
What my car wants to be some day.
He was also a car customizer to the stars and the WIKI mentions those he built vehicles for, as well as novelty golf carts.
Kinda hard to see anyone of his talent coming around again any time soon...
*** Next up, The TOY HALL OF FAME (located in Rochester, NY) makes it's decision for the 2015 inductees...
Here's the story link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/06/nyregion/at-the-toy-hall-of-fame-new-inductees-join-the-ball-the-box-and-the-barbie-doll.html
Looks to be TWISTER, the SUPER SOAKER and THE PUPPET (any of them)
It did take these people until TEN years ago to induct the CARDBOARD BOX...
(better late than never, hmm?)
2015 inductees
And they did induct the BALL back in 2009, which was only ONE year after THE STICK was inducted (the toy of choice in our part of the ghettohood...lol)
Toys of the "imagination" don't tend to get as much traction as the obvious ones, I suppose.
*** Next, and speaking about kids who wind up with scarred youth and adolescence, we have this gem:
http://wane.com/2015/11/05/former-wayne-special-ed-staffer-admits-to-sex-with-student/
Yep, another sexual predator in another school...and in special ed at that.
He sure must have placed the "special" in that education...pervert.
They need to start tossing some LARGE books at these creeps...and a lot more OFTEN.
How they get under the wire and onto the schools is beyond me.
Maybe the vetting process needs to be changed a bit.
Kids have enough problems in this screwed-up world as it is, without some person that can't keep things in his pants and preys on developing minds.
Such perversions are done only to supply the perpetrator with some level of power and pleasure.
And what about the young lives that are compromised in their wake?
Sure makes growing up "normal" a lot more difficult, doesn't it?
*** Next, Our reigning monarch, "King" Henry sits down and holds an audience with WANE reporter Brett Thomas.
STILL good to be king.
Here's the video (all 18 minutes of it that didn't air on TV):
http://wane.com/2015/11/05/interview-with-tom-henry/
Now, you have to see the whole video to hear such things like:
"I brought Rusty on board as Public Safety Director because of a one-week spike in criminal activity and needed someone who could spend more time than I could with the operational part of the police department."
Still two empty suits (imho)
So THAT means that FWPD chief Garry Hamilton IS NOT THAT QUALIFIED to hold that job, right? What did I (and others) say all this time?
Henry goes on to say that more officers are not NEEDED on our streets...
((...AHEM..))  Really? REALLY???
Coulda fooled me, bub.
Sure looks like we NEED them, considering response time, lack of active patrols, and monitoring the "hot spots" in the SE primarily, as well as expanding this to the north and west.
I think the ratio of officers per capita has been proven to be effective, so let me pose a question to any and all LEOs who read this blog:
"Would any of you rather have to police 500 people, both good and bad...or 1000 of the same types of people at any given time?"
The interview is perhaps more revealing than one might let on...you watch and you decide.
*** Next up,  a 9-year old boy is basically assassinated by gang members in (where else?)...Chicago.
Here's the story link:
http://abc7chicago.com/news/$20k-reward-offered-to-find-9-year-old-boys-killer/1065731/
Baby-daddy is a known gang member, so it's no surprise that HE pissed off the wrong people.
THIS is what an entitlement society looks like.
And where the hell is the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement?
And it SMELLS like it, too.
Not hearing one damn word from THEM about this killing, are we?
Guess only CERTAIN black lives matter...like those who disobey authority and get shot for pulling guns on or assaulting police, right?
*** Next, LAZER-X is no more.
On Fernhill St behind Glenbrook
The building burned down yesterday morning...damn shame.
Never got to go there. Here's the story link:
http://www.21alive.com/news/local/Flames-engulf--340808012.html
I'd like to see the place rebuilt, if for no other reason than to allow those who ALREADY had reserved parties and such there to enjoy it. I know they will be refunded thier money (if any).
*** Next (to last)...the new JAMES BOND film, SPECTRE opens today, and the trailers look pretty damn good.
Screw what any critic might say...this is 007, for God's sake.
Then again, Daniel Craig has confirmed (for me) his place in the mythology from Fleming. I liked him from the start...very well portrayed character...and near as good as Connery.
A new set of wheels is standard equipment, too.
*** Last back to the kitchen...it's perfectly fine to take an active part in all the things life has to offer each of us.
It's easier when we're younger, have more energy, and the spirit to do the right thing, and to help others whenever and wherever we can.
But, it's also fine to be an "observer" of the human condition, and that's not to say we never get involved - it means we learn how to choose our "battles" in life, rather than have those battles come to our front door.
Taking time to watch people...hear people. and learn about and from their idiosyncrasies goes far to teach us how we need to act or react to ourselves as well as others.
In today's world, everyone's got their faces stuck into some smartphone, so the face-to-face interaction between us is diminished.
That presents it's own unique problems, and we see evidence of that every damn day.
Also, while it's fine to watch and listen, that can also help us learn when we need to intervene on behalf of someone who might need some sort of help. It also teaches us who is HONEST with such a need, as opposed to those who feign such behavior.
It's never all about jumping into the fray without regard to wit or wisdom.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, we used to call that being a cum laude graduate of the "Han Solo School of Action Before Thought"...LOL.
Life is short enough to NOT take in all we can, and that doesn't mean we have to participate in everything. It does men we need to take the time to pay attention to all the little things, because, when we're older we will discover that those little things were indeed the big things.
Therein lies the lesson for the week.
Do have yourselves a great weekend.
Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

05 November 2015

Thoughts For Thursday...
Okay, so the rain it taking it's time getting here, and that means another mild day in the Heartland.
The rain rolls in tonight into tomorrow, and then temps start to drop a bit into more seasonal numbers.
Our Hoosierland weather for today has is mostly cloudy and breezy, with temps reaching back up into the low 70s.
And when that rain comes through tonight, expect nearly ALL the leaves to be on the ground, where we'll all have to rake them...again (I think that will make FOUR times for me).
So let's all get that morning drink as we kick back and see what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the sock drawer is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity."
This was spoken by W. Clement Stone (May 4 1902 - September 3 2002) and was a businessman, philanthropist, and New Thought self-help book author.
Here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Clement_Stone
This is the sort of person that SHOULD come out of Chicago, and not those of the "current crop" of miscreants we see that even elevate to ruining our nation. Stone represents part of that(former) greatest generation.
His story is one of "rags to riches", and is about a young newsstand operator who rose to become the founder of the Combined Insurance Company (1919).
By 1979, Stone's insurance company exceeded one BILLION in assets, so he merged with Ryan Insurance and created Aon Corporation in 1987.
Stone was a huge contributor to Richard Nixon in both of his election campaigns  in both 1968 and 1972.
The WIKI is a good read and shows the sort of stuff a lot more people were made of, as well as touches on how much easier it was back then to get a company off the ground. Thanks to subsequent federal regulations, I doubt if Stone would have fared as well today, and that is a real shame.
*** Next up is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
November 5 -
---Today is NATIONAL LOVE YOUR RED HAIR DAY
(I'm holding out for love your GRAY hair day 'cause that's all I got, but I find HERS strangely attracting.)
---It's also NATIONAL MEN MAKE DINNER DAY
THIS is how we separate the men from the boys.
(I'm pretty much drafted for this "op"...oh, and no BBQ or TAKE-OUT - that's cheating, guys.)
---And, it's NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY
Good things are worth repeating.
(Yes, we had this day in JUNE...which is the REAL date. Today is just a ploy to sell donuts. Still, you just know that cops are going to be ALL over this...LOL
And NO guys, you can't combine this with the "dinner" thing...got it?)
---It's GUY FAWKES DAY (in the UK), and here is the WIKI for the event:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night#Guy_Fawkes_Day
Guy Fawkes himself.
This does predate America, as it happened back in 1605,
Amazing how one event and one man, who wasn't really anyone of note like part of the reigning monarchy could be kept in such tradition for so long.
And it makes a good side-story for at least ONE movie (V For Vendetta) - 2005)
Moving on...
*** Next up, those pre-Christmas ads are becoming more numerous, aren't they?
I even saw one today that was touting a Pre-Black Friday sale.
And that as part of some phone survey we got the other day.
Unfortunately, I played along (for once), and some of the questions asked of me dealt with holiday shopping.
I usually have a good idea of what to get and who to give to. I'd like to do more, but as you get older, you don't hear from as many as you used to, which makes things a little difficult.
Anyway, the survey wanted to know if I would shop on Black Friday (hell, no!)
And they asked about expenses, how much, how we would pay...nothing that invasive to our lives.
I also figure it was for some story we'll be reading about regarding "trends" for holiday shopping.
Naturally, this will mean shopping either online or having to go up NORTH, because we have no REAL retail down here, except for Wal-Mart.
We can thank so many downtown for this one over the last 25 years.
Got LOTS of this down here.
And we can also thank the human flotsam that helped chase off retail on the south side.
This year will be no different for us.
*** Next, we have another story which should have everyone saying "typical"...
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Suspect-charged-in-April-homicide-9734230
Yeah, a homicide that took place in APRIL...and he's FINALLY being charged (speedy prosecutor's office).Only took  SEVEN months to figure this all out.
The perp, one Morris L. Williams, 44, was easy enough to find,,,he was ALREADY serving time in an ILLINOIS PRISON.
(anyone ever bother to check neighboring states for such things a bit SOONER?)
Nice mug shot, BTW.
He looks like such a GOOD person (read savage animal).
Williams is only facing a charge of aggravated battery in the stabbing of Stacy Evans, 30, outside the Eden Green Apartments.
Evans was stabbed in the neck and the carotid and jugular were cut, so the victim had to have bled out.
So, WHY are we NOT seeing a MURDER charge?
I suppose that baffles me as much as to WHY it's taken so damn long to charge the perp.
Just more of the same here in Fort Wayne.
*** Next up, Kevin Leininger has a good column about the recent (fake social media) "dust-up" over allegations that two Indiana politicians had ties to the KKK.
Here's the story link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local/Shameful--expose--of-hood-wearing-public-officials-proves-media-have-earned-public-s-mistrust
He makes a good point about jumping the gun, even when media sources appear to be legit.
Like President Reagan said - "Trust, but VERIFY".
And yet, some media outlets take stories without such verification or fact-checking, and run with them.
This smacks of what I've said often - it's all about being sensationalistic.
Hey, EVERYONE in the media cannot be a National Enquirer of Examiner (thank God for that much...lol)
But, they ARE trying (mostly my patience).
*** Last back to the clothes hamper...we seem to "redefine" so much in our society these days.
It's becoming akin to a chronic illness and being done all the damn time.
What people my age (or older) used to recall as being ONE things (mostly set in stone) has been turned on it's ear, and apparently for no good reason, except to say that these people CAN do it.
Sounds like an excuse to me.
Personally I'm getting and tired of hearing words and things that I knew USED to mean ONE thing, and now meaning something completely different.
Some things in life deserve to be in some state of flux, but other things should not be messed with...like our LANGUAGE.
For example, how many remember when the word GAY meant happy and joyful?
Well, now, it means homosexual or lesbian.
Kinda puts a dent in that old Christmas song (..."don we now our gay apparel")
Rather than recall times past with fondness, we barely remember the good things FROM our past.
Our society seems to go from "one thing (or fad) to another", and the more sensational and/or entertaining it is...THE BETTER. It's a form of change for the sake of change.
I would ask of these people "What are you running from?", but in too many cases, perhaps we should be asking "What are you running TOWARDS?"
And NOT re-defined.
I would wager that we would find a lack of answers...to EITHER or BOTH questions.
Everyone needs a sense of PURPOSE, for without that, we are noting.
Everything God created has a purpose - this world, the plants, the animals, and yes, even we mortal beings of finite life...a REAL purpose, and not something manufactured or contrived.
The nice thing about having purpose in life, is that it is a seed from which so much more of us blossoms.
We become empowered, motivated, driven, accumulate more knowledge, wisdom, and a better sense of self, as well as others.
And, it's very easy to see those without purpose...all you have to do is look around you, read a paper, watch the news, or listen to the radio.
So yes, whenever we redefine one thing, we change many other things, many time unknowingly.
The sad part, is that we have to deal with the effects from such causes
But, we are up to that challenge, are we not?
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.