Thoughts For Thursday...

Anyone who was wanting rain yesterday should not have been disappointed.
Although it didn't last ALL day, the periods where it did rain saw some brief downpours.
Must have made all the farmers happy around Indiana.
Our Hoosierland weather for today will see us with mostly cloudy skies and somewhat cooler conditions. Temps will wind up around the 78 degree mark, and no rain in the immediate forecast.
Now, what say we go get that morning drink poured as we sit back and take in all that's been going on elsewhere?
*** First off of the driveway is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote.
"It's not a gun-control problem; it's a cultural control problem."
This was spoken by Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr (born 5 November 1948), who is a former federal prosecutor, and a former Congressman, representing Georgia's 7th district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003.
And yes, even he has a WIKI. Here it is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Barr
Barr is perhaps best noted for being one of the leaders of the impeachment proceedings against (then) president Clinton.
He was also the Libertarian party's nominee for president back during the 2008 election.
He had an interesting career in Congress as well as had some good views politically (for the most part).
I'll leave it up to all of you to read the WIKI and make up your own minds.
I do think it's good to see some of the "other guys" in our government from time to time, and how they view things, good or bad.
*** Next up, we bring you our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
June 16 -
---Today is NATIONAL FUDGE DAY

(damn, I knew I was missing something for breakfast...lol)
---And, it's NATIONAL DUMP THE PUMP DAY

(has to do with being encouraged to ride PUBLIC transportation rather than drive, like using our own Citilink...if you don't mind the smell of stale urine and creepy people...heh)
*** Next up, yes folks, ANOTHER shooting on the city's (where the hell else?) SOUTHEAST side. Gee, that makes two in the last two days...anyone gonna attempt a "trifecta" today?

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Another-shooting-leaves-man-critical-13618581

This took place around 1620 hrs in an alley along Baxter St between the 4100 blocks of Avondale and Lafayette.
People heard gunshots and when police arrived they found a male teen suffering from gunshot wounds in the alley (there was one report of a head shot). The teen was taken to hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Okay, so we have a person (or persons) emboldened enough to pull this kind of crap off in broad daylight, with no never-mind to being caught (let alone spotted) by the police.
Now, I wonder how this would play out IF we had MORE PATROLS down in sector 45 (that's where we live) INCLUDING all the alleys?
When I can count the number of FWPD cruisers going by on ONE hand per week, something is wrong, if in fact, we're being "told" that more resources are being directed down here to address the problems we have to live with.
"Changing tactics" was the phrase du jour, I believe.
This is probably the ONLY blog that chronicles all the crap that goes down here on a regular basis...no spin, just the facts, and I find it very hard to believe that I'm the only person that notices such things or bothers to post them here.

Not by a long shot!

You're always hearing about neighbors worried about their street, saying they're scared or that it didn't USED to be like this.
So, they only speak when on camera? Why not pitch a fit at EVERY and ALL city leaders as well as what is passing for community leaders to take action and stop this before it gets worse.
And, by the way, it HAS been getting worse over the last decade, so anything that was meant to stop the rising crime down here has been woefully ineffective and a waste of time and resources.
*** Next up, and just when I thought Indiana Senator Dan Coats might be a really good guy, you read something like this:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/Coats-willing-to-reconsider-stand-on-gun-control-13618846

More Republicans are having this "change of heart" about GUN CONTROL?
Seriously?
I smell "waffles"...lol.
Are we pulling out the lockstep BS rhetoric again?
Now,  I admit that denying gun purchases to people on the terror-watch list IS a good idea, but like Bob Barr said (above),  we don't need more GUN control...we need some CULTURAL violence control. Stricter enforcement of CURRENT laws would work best.

M4A1 = full auto - AR15 = semi-auto Got it?

And let's once and for all make the PROPER distinction between  what is being called an "assault" rifle.
Also, people need to know the difference between a SEMI-auto long gun and a FULL-auto one. The media seems to be quite lacking along those lines and no amount of correct information is getting through their thick skulls.
When you stop and think about it, ALL firearms "could" be construed as being classified in some sort of "assault" category, if for no other reason than having someone assault another person WITH that firearm, so the ambiguity here can wind up leading to more far-reaching aspects of guns in general.
Let's all take a deep breath, get everyone properly EDUCATED on firearms first, and then our Constitution before we start jerking any more knees, kapeesh?
*** Next, here's something that should NOT be revelatory in nature:
http://www.journalgazette.net/business/Obamacare-costs-going-up-13604914

And the socialism continues...

Yep, Obummercare costs are GOING UP...AGAIN.
And this was supposed to SAVE people money with health care costs...HOW exactly?
It has done nothing to that effect since it was forced down everyone's throat.
This latest "rise" will cost consumers an average of around 11%. 
When's the last time YOU got a raise like that, hmm?
For example, a 40-year old nonsmoker will pay anywhere from $192 in Albuquerque, NM to $482 in Burlington, VT.
Seems the people behind this study can't get the data available soon enough.
*** Last back to the fallout shelter...America seems to be sailing in perilous waters of late.

Pass the damn Dramamine!

And that can't be a good thing for so many reasons.
We used to have a lot better understanding of the course we wanted our nation to chart, and were moving along at a much better pace than we seem to be these days.
We have permitted, rather elected people into the highest offices in our land, not the least of which is the presidency, and found out that for all their persuasive powers and promises, we are no better off, and in many ways, a lot WORSE off.

But the people who voted these bullshitters into whatever office they held (or are still holding) didn't seem that upset about the state of our country, because they were busy texting, sexting, and finding out the newest "dirt" on some celeb living high and mighty and oblivious to what we, the people have to deal with daily.
That's when they weren't all taking selfies, video-capturing some bit of tripe or crimianl act against someone else on their smartphone. We have become like TAFFY - pulled in every direction for whatever reason.
And many are fine with that...huh, WHAT?
Life is apparently meant (just) to be "enjoyed" and that's to the exclusion of what every person in this country SHOULD be learning about life and all it's intricacies. What I see is more "hive-minded" than individual thoughts and actions. Sounds a bit hedonistic.
All you need is the right "hashtag" and everyone follows someone off the nearest cliff...again.

I suppose doing the latter means applying oneself, an people don't wish to be bothered.
Well, they better turn that around, and fast, before we lose this country to the evil that many are pursuing (without even knowing it).
We all need to make better choices, weight consequences of actions, and speak out against that which we KNOW to be wrong, rather than pass it off to the "next person in line".
And we need to do such things on a DAILY basis, for evil (in any form) never takes a day off.

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