08 June 2016

Humpday Happenings...
Welcome to the middle of the week (right where we left it, too).
Yesterday's weather was nothing short of fantastic (imho).
Today won't seem that bad either (and you will agree with me by late Saturday, trust me).
Our Hoosierland weather for today will see us with mostly sunny skies, mild breezes, and a high of around the 70-degree mark. Yes, not that bad at all.
So what say we all get our respective morning drinks poured as we set about seeing what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First off of the bird feeder is our WHO SAID THAT? quote of the week:
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves,  tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. "
Now, if THAT doesn't make a case against more taxes, I don't know what does.
It just makes too much sense, right?
So, WHO said that?
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back on "The Santa Fe Trail"...
*** Next, is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
June 8 -
---Today is NATIONAL BEST FRIENDS DAY
(you mean there is MORE than one? How can THAT be?)
---It's also NATIONAL NAME YOUR POISON DAY
(lemme see - how about "the people in my neighborhood"?)
---And, it's NATIONAL UPSY-DAISY DAY
(This is what "they" say: "Each year on June 8, National Upsy Daisy Day is set aside to encourage you to face the day positively and to get up ‘gloriously, gratefully and gleefully each morning." Yeah, right. ROFLMAO!!!)
*** Next, I was expecting last evening's City Council meeting to be a bit of a hoot, and it really didn't disappoint.
Here's the N-S version (from Kevin Leininger, who was in attendance):
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local/City-Council-reduces--then-passes--new-wheel-tax
Have to say that council president, Russ Jehl was spot on with his assessment of this (new) tax, which initially passed by a 5-4 vote.
Our city cannot (and should not) pursue ALL these "pie-in-the-sky" downtown-riverfront "dreams" and then come to the taxpayers with their hands out for MORE money whenever it suits them.
We used to call it STEWARDSHIP, and the more that those we elect practice that, the better off we all become. Works in most any household.
Pretty simple to figure out.
If you NEED money that bad, let's try something I mentioned to our former governor (O'Bannon) a while back (they didn't bite) - have YEARLY VEHICLE INSPECTIONS in major cities in Indiana.
A flat $20 (pass or fail) to ensure that pollution controls (and other systems) are operable on ALL vehicles. If you fail, you have to get things fixed and then get inspected again (another $20). That would make the roads SAFER and create LESS pollutants from cars, buses, trucks, and so on...practical idea, right?
And everyone gets to "play" - no exceptions.
You can't get a registration renewal (plate or sticker) WITHOUT it.
But, I digress...
Our city can't really float some more BONDS for street/road work, because we still owe about $60 MIL for the ballpark, so that's a wash.
Welcome to Fort Wayne!
Then, there's this "big dig" for the sewer system (15 miles) of huge tunnels to carry off the storm water, plus all the downtown bullshit being touted...where the hell does this all end?
"The FARCE is strong with this city".
Using my Jedi skills, I sense the word "exodus" for some reason...wonder why?
*** Next, and in a related story, the city wants this riverfront development SO damn bad.
Here's this story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/courts/City-sues-to-obtain-riverfront-properties-13463373
The area in question (for now).
Imagine that...the city resorts to a LAWSUIT, claiming EMINENT DOMAIN to obtain 3 properties in the Superior-Wells Sts. area. Guess those at Greater Fort Wayne, Inc will stop at nothing to further THEIR agenda?
I keep saying that those (elected) at City Hall aren't really "running" this city, and it's starting to show.
All this legalese crap...JUST to add ANOTHER park where we don't need one (at the moment).
And, it's all part of this "initiative" for that million person regional thing.
Funny, the city can steamroller over property owners, but can't seem to find the same equipment, and do likewise on our streets when THEY are in disrepair...astounding.
*** Next, a bit of a faux-pas with our FWPD spokesguy (ad infinitum).
This has to do with the M-80s set off in Glenbrook Mall a couple nights ago. Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2016/06/07/police-search-for-suspects-consider-charges-in-mall-firework-incident/
Social media was ripe with comments from patrons on scene when the fireworks were detonated.
I can easily see the confusion and possible panic situation resulting from whoever pulled such a dipshit act off. Shame the charges would be ONLY misdemeanors.
In the story, the FWPD PIO (du jour) states: “This is probably the deepest or lowest amount of stupidity that one could exercise."
No, ACTUALLY, it would the HIGHEST amount of STUPIDITY...you misspoke, Mike.
A LOW amount of stupidity is putting my shoes on the wrong feet.
Brain fart. See how that works?
Please think before you speak, people. Words still mean something to SOME of us.
Hey, here's a novel idea, let's BAN such fireworks to the public WITHIN city limits?
Obviously, we have a few morons who revel in chaos, and we can't have that, can we?
*** Next, and here we go again with this PRE-K BS. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/Pre-K-tops-Ritz-education-priorities-13461419
Seriously?
Why is it that politicians are SO damn bent on getting our children in some form of "education" )and I use that word LOOSELY) at younger ages?
Are parents THAT bad where the government has to swoop in, scoop up the toddlers and whisk them off to some form of pre-indoctrination indoctrination?
Cripes, in my day, kindergarten was NEVER "mandatory", and those who attended it performed no better in elementary school than those of us who didn't follow the pre-school path.
This is getting WAY out of hand.
We can't test kids properly any longer, want them in a more structured environment sooner, and all but deny them their childhood in the process. Where's the damn "up" side?
In other words - DO FOR THEM what they should be
doing for THEMSELVES.
No wonder we have a couple generations of lost souls, whose only ability is to rail against the very system that made them the way they are...talk about biting the hand that feeds them (and for free), right?
*** Last back to the patio table...what ever happened to our families and their values?
"I KNOW yer not talking 'bout ME, Bob."
When did we deviate from what was traditional (and worked damn well) to the totally FUBAR situations found in so many houses and apartments today?
When did being irresponsible become the "responsible" thing to do?
Over 70% of black children grow up in single parent households, and now we're seeing over 30% of white households in similar situations.
And THESE represent those who raise kids in such a venue from the time the children are born.
The parents who raise older children in a single parent scenario do so for other reasons which don't impact on the lack of responsible behavior on the part of the "father".
Many of those situations are due to divorce, or the death of the father...you get the idea.
But, the ones who actively CHOOSE to be a single parent, and have 3 or more kids (by different fathers) are asking for failure, no matter HOW many taxpayer-sponsored programs are put in place.
"sign" of our times?
No longer are such programs "safety nets", but are commonplace and expected by those people.
The blame for any dissolution of the traditional family falls upon MANY shoulders, and yes, it begins AT HOME.
( you really can't even call them homes any longer, for that implies a sense OF family as we know and remember it)
People need to WANT to raise a FAMILY, and not a bunch of tax dodges, or free food and money grabbers.
When you have to WORK for something, you come to appreciate it a lot more, and we're missing the mark there, too.
Better to learn how to be thankful, and appreciative, and grateful for all we have and all we can achieve...IF we decide to follow that path, than to wallow in feigned poverty and allow someone else to "do the heavy lifting" in life.
That's NOT how we founded this nation, not how we prospered, and certainly should not be the road we take as we journey into our future. Easy isn't better. Something to remember, hmm?
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.

4 comments:

A Beer for the Shower said...

You know, I find the whole "let's cram stuff into kids' heads earlier" stuff funny, because the stuff I learned in my first year of high school (like calculus, blah) was stuff my dad learned in college. Nowadays kids are being taught those kinds of things way earlier. Questions like this almost sound like a joke.

https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-best-way-to-introduce-Calculus-to-a-6-year-old

And yet, for all of this, I'm not any smarter than my dad is. And without being too cocky, I don't think any of the rising 18 year olds that just popped out of high school are any smarter than I was at that age. So what is this all for? Just for the sake of saying your 6 year old knows calculus?

Bob G. said...

ABFS:
That's the point EXACTLY!
I would bet good money that you guys are WAY smarter than a LOT of college+ grads with a mess of initials after their names.

If a child (any CHILD FOR THAT MATTER) is meant to GRAVITATE to higher learning earlier in their development, it will occur at that child's pace.

Many times, a child learns through observation and mimicry, and if the parent(s) is/are "teaching" by EXAMPLE, the rest becomes rote and very elementary.

Shoving kids into such "government-sponsored" venues earlier doesn't ensure a bumper crop of Einsteins or Hawkings.
We're seeing evidence of that.

Thanks for stopping by today and taking time to share what's on your mind.
Much appreciated and again, well said.

You both stay safe (and always classy) out there.

CWMartin said...

We used to have those inspections, many moons ago. Had to get a sticker (Or get it punched) on your windshield and everything. Never did figure why they stopped it. Now you know why you see SO many junky cars in Indiana- didn't used to when I was knee-high.

Actually the PIO is mistaken on MANY counts, the most obvious of which is the high/low confusion which is pretty much dumber than the m-80s.

Your Pre-K section was dead on (am NOT surprised, BTW). The sad thing, most of the educators that could change things were raised under that same umbrella. Closing homily blended right in. I have a blog friend who, in their hour of need sought shelter for her and hers at her mom's place. Long story short- fight, broken hand, prosecutor charges mom, up to my friend to drop- And she says, rightly so, "She'd have me in jail in a heartbeat." A family is no better than its componants- and too many parents are busy being stand-alone instead of part of the whole.


Bob G. said...

Chris:
---Yeah, if you folks USED to have it, I'd be curious as to WHY they ditched that source of revenue (and vehicle safety().
Junk vehicles INDEED!
---Agreed on the PIOs being mistaken (a lot)...when they're NOT being AMBIGUIOUS...lol.
---Guess we older folks tend to stick together as long as we're ALIVE.
---People these days don't seem to understand the real meaning of FAMILY, it would appear.
Few are "perfect", but it's the problems that are handled TOGETHER to the benefit of ALL members IN that family. Not to sound sappy, but it's sharing, caring, halving the troubles and doubling the joys, and working to that end all the time.
(nutshell description).
We've allowed dysfunction to take the place of ALL that, and created programs to work WITH (even nurture) that dysfunction, instead of eradicating it, sadly.

Hey, thanks much for stopping by today and commenting.

Do stay safe up there, brother.
(BTW) that squirrel video had me ROFL).