Tuesday Tidbits...

Welcome to the Post-Monday edition of my own little sliver of the Internet realm, and if you like random rain showers in the Midwest, then the rest of this week will be right up your alley.
Our Hoosierland weather for today will see us with increasingly cloudy skies (might eek out a sunrise), temps reaching into the mid-80s, and yes, that chance of rain (perhaps even a thunderstorm) later on, with rising humidity.
So, let's get that morning drink poured (I may need two) and see what's been going on elsewhere.
*** First out of the cereal box is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature.
June 14 -
---Today is NATIONAL BOURBON DAY

(told you I might need TWO morning drinks...LOL)
---It's also NATIONAL FLAG DAY

(fly it if you got it - more about this in a minute)
---And, it's NATIONAL POP GOES THE WEASEL DAY

(check out the ACTUAL lyrics to the nursery rhyme, it may enlighten you)
---It's also NATIONAL STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DAY

(we're talking about the DESSERT - NOT the cartoon character)
*** Next up, and because YOU need to know these things, here are all the shots fired and armed robbery calls that went out last week in Fort Wayne (the media will never tell you about these):

SHOTS FIRED / ARMED ROBBERY CALLS - 6/6 - 6/12
JUNE 6 -
16F075274 04:04:28 113 SHOTS FIRED 2000 HOBSON RD
16F075277 04:54:02 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 EDSALL AVE
16F075601 18:16:05 113 SHOTS FIRED 4200 COLDWATER RD
16F075558 17:00:49 53 ARMED ROB 1900 SEDDLEMEYER AVE
16F075241 00:46:14 58 SHOOTING 1200 STATE BLVD E
16F075278 05:22:06 58 SHOOTING 9900 DUPONT CIRCLE DR W
JUNE 7 -
16F075798 03:19:00 113 SHOTS FIRED 6800 LAURA LN
16F076112 18:14:05 113 SHOTS FIRED 3000 BROADWAY & WILDWOOD AVE W
16F076225 22:23:50 113 SHOTS FIRED 2800 REED ST
16F075769 00:51:38 53 ARMED ROB 5100 STONEHEDGE BLVD
16F076242 23:19:19 53 ARMED ROB 900 WASHINGTON BLVD E
JUNE 8 -
16F076252 00:07:29 113 SHOTS FIRED 1100 NEW ENGLAND DR
16F076273 01:37:18 113 SHOTS FIRED 1500 FLAGSTONE DR
16F076565 16:38:53 113 SHOTS FIRED 4400 MONROE ST S & CONGRESS AVE
16F076289 03:18:33 53 ARMED ROB 5200 WINTER ST
16F076766 23:09:14 53 ARMED ROB 4900 BLUFFTON RD
16F076305 04:55:54 58 SHOOTING 3300 COLISEUM BLVD W
16F076384 09:39:21 58 SHOOTING 7900 JEFFERSON BLVD W
JUNE 9 -
16F077031 14:51:42 113 SHOTS FIRED 3600 BOWSER AVE
16F077269 22:34:35 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 LEWIS ST E
16F077297 23:26:33 53 ARMED ROB 2600 GOSHEN RD
JUNE 10 -
16F077318 00:40:13 113 SHOTS FIRED 200 CREIGHTON AVE W & WEBSTER ST
16F077704 19:17:08 113 SHOTS FIRED 4700 WEISSER PARK AVE
16F077761 21:08:54 113 SHOTS FIRED 4100 MAPLECREST RD
16F077691 18:58:56 58 SHOOTING 2200 RANDALLIA DR
16F077814 22:50:33 58 SHOOTING 2000 DREXEL AVE
((NO armed robberies))
JUNE 11 -
16F077880 00:33:12 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 PLAZA DR
16F077928 02:34:15 113 SHOTS FIRED 2100 BROADWAY & DEWALD ST W
16F077944 03:12:35 113 SHOTS FIRED 5900 RADCLIFFE DR
16F077953 03:48:34 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 DEWALD ST W
16F077956 03:57:21 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 WAKEFIELD AVE & WARWICK AVE
16F077959 04:00:31 113 SHOTS FIRED 5100 STONEHEDGE BLVD & CANTERBURY
16F078370 22:50:36 113 SHOTS FIRED 1100 PONTIAC ST E & OLIVER ST
16F078382 23:12:03 113 SHOTS FIRED 4000 LILLIE ST
16F078393 23:31:48 53 ARMED ROB 4200 LAFAYETTE ST S
16F078086 12:42:01 58 SHOOTING 7900 JEFFERSON BLVD W
JUNE 12 - 
16F078458 02:00:22 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 COLISEUM BLVD W & WELLS ST
16F078505 05:27:43 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 PACKARD AVE W
16F078830 22:29:16 113 SHOTS FIRED 3900 ROBINWOOD DR
16F078495 04:43:57 53 ARMED ROB 2800 STATE BLVD E
16F078611 13:48:43 58 SHOOTING 2200 RANDALLIA DR
===================
*** And we can't forget that it has become "fireworks season" in Fort Wayne either, as the stores have been selling them for a couple weeks now, so let's see who are THIS week's morons:

===========================
FIREWORKS CALLS 6/6 - 6/13
===========================
JUNE 6 =
16F075388 11:24:47 44FW 5500 CHISWELL RUN
16F075521 15:36:00 44FW 4700 REED ST
16F075662 20:33:11 44FW 800 RIDGEWOOD DR
16F075713 22:03:27 44FW 3400 WALDEN RUN
16F075714 22:04:23 44FW 3500 WORCHESTER PL
16F075715 22:22:03 44FW 5400 CHANTILLY DR & AMULET DR
JUNE 7 -
16F076113 18:15:15 44FW 2900 BROADWAY & COTTAGE AVE
16F076121 18:22:13 44FW 2800 BROADWAY & HOME AVE
16F076215 22:05:00 44FW 1800 CREMER AVE
16F076218 22:09:08 44FW 4700 HOLTON AVE
16F076228 22:26:46 44FW 100 PONTIAC ST E & CALHOUN ST S
JUNE 8 -
16F076260 00:26:42 44FW 7000 NORTHRIVER RD
16F076462 13:17:09 44FW 3900 PETTIT AVE E
JUNE 9 -
16F077255 21:23:15 44FW 4100 VAIL CT
16F077287 23:09:15 44FW 1100 RUDISILL BLVD W
JUNE 10 - 
16F077694 19:01:27 44FW 8500 BREMEN WAY
16F077792 22:14:25 44FW 5500 CHISWELL RUN
16F077806 22:37:41 44FW 2500 THOMPSON AVE & MAPLE AVE
16F077811 22:39:17 44FW 1300 NORMANDALE DR
JUNE 11 - 
16F077872 00:30:09 44FW 3100 LILLIE ST
16F077918 02:00:55 44FW 3700 COLDWATER RD & CLINTON ST N
16F077958 04:01:48 44FW 3900 CLINTON ST N & FERNWOOD AVE
16F077964 04:17:55 44FW 3900 NEWPORT AVE
16F078342 21:45:37 44FW 3800 SHERMAN BLVD
16F078338 21:51:44 44FW 8400 LIMA RD & GILMORE DR
16F078343 21:59:25 44FW 2600 LYNN AVE
16F078346 22:11:04 44FW 6500 ST JOE CENTER RD
16F078356 22:13:55 44FW 2200 GLENWOOD AVE
16F078362 22:26:26 44FW 4600 ARLINGTON PARK BLVD W
JUNE 12 - 
16F078645 14:44:29 44FW 3800 SHERMAN BLVD
16F078692 17:02:30 44FW 1500 VANCE AVE
16F078719 17:20:25 44FW 8500 BREMEN WAY
16F078712 17:50:29 44FW 2300 TERRACE RD & NEVA AVE
16F078813 21:53:10 44FW 1000 COOK RD E
16F078831 22:08:12 44FW 6000 MONARCH DR
16F078846 22:46:03 44FW 4100 BOWSER AVE
16F078847 22:54:26 44FW 2200 MAPLEWOOD RD
==========================
And it will only get more frequent as Independence Day approaches...make no mistake.
*** Next up, yes, today is FLAG DAY, and here is the link to our nation's most recognizable symbol.
http://www.usflag.org/flag.day.html

Our "Fortress" flies it's flag.

There you will find the meaning of flag day in the USA.
Now, before I go any further, let me go on record in saying that I find this almost constant "lowering" of our flag a bit disturbing.
We seem to "half-staff" damn near anything and anyone these days, and that's NOT supposed to be the case.
Here is some background as to WHY and WHEN we should lower our nation's flag:
http://halfstaff.org/
http://www.usflag.org/nff.half.staff.html
Granted the tragedy is Orlando is just that...a tragedy, but I personally feel it diminishes those who have died in the SERVICE of this nation and to those brave men and women, our flag SHOULD reflect that.

When it comes to civilians, a STATE flag should suffice, and at the behest of the governor of the state.
Our president CAN "order" the flag to be flown at half-staff for any reason, and again, I think the lines of reason have become a bit blurred over recent times.
But, that's just my thought on that.
I'm flying our flag and not at half-staff...sue me.
*** Next up, another "sticking point" about the Orlando shootings that maybe you picked up on.

People in both the media and private sector, as well as politicians have erroneously been using the word "HONOR" when mentioning the slain and wounded victims of the terrorist attack.
I looked up the word honor at several sources, and this is how it goes:
HONOR -n. 
1- high respect, esteem
2- privilege
-v.
1- regard with great respect
2- fulfill (an obligation) or keep (an agreement)

It also means respect that is given to someone who is admired.
And, it means "good reputation - good quality or character as judged by other people", and it means "high moral standards of behavior".
This is a word we use when referring to our fallen soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors  who have given their all for someone else. Arlington Cemetery is filled with such people.
It also refers to the LEOs and firefighters who also give their all.
It can refer to a fallen commander of troops or a head-of-state or even a Supreme Court judge.
ALL of these people deserve the word HONOR and we make such known at the appropriate times and for the appropriate REASONS, do we not?
So WHERE do the victims of Orlando fit into THIS particular picture?
I just don't see a correlation.

This isn't meant as a slight to those killed...it just means they were more targets than anything else, and the strict definition of the word doesn't seem to apply.
Perhaps using another word like REMEMBER or COMMEMORATE would be better.
Words still mean something, and using one out of context for a talking point, or to get higher ratings isn't a good way to teach or learn vocab. It is a good way to spin a story and sway the masses, however.
*** Next, Midwest gas prices are on the rise...JUST in time for the summer season and when driving seems to reach it's zenith.

Here's one of several story links:
http://247wallst.com/energy-economy/2016/06/06/gas-prices-rise-sharply-in-midwest-on-refinery-outage/
At least THIS story gives a REASON for the price spike. All the local news sources just said "refinery issues"...

Ambiguous as ever, aren't they?
So, we have a refinery "outage" in the Midwest? How (in) CONVENIENT.
And THIS story was back on 6 June...I found it by doing a search. Wonder why media sources didn't do likewise? A DETROIT refinery is to blame for whatever OUTAGE has been going on.
And we wonder WHY prices rise, when we have not built a single NEW refinery in this country in over 40+ years, or even bothered to expand existing ones?
*** Last back to the sugar bowl... there seems to be a growing problem with society today (not another one), and it would appear to be centered around something we call THE TRUTH.

Sure, it's much easier to pull snippets out and air them or print them, because many people today aren't all that enthused with FACTS, as opposed to OPINION, or PERSPECTIVE, or anything else that keeps one from finding the truth.
To some, that's okay, because they're not concerned with anything not directly affecting them, and they should be.
In today's world, there is so much that is intertwined with damn near everything, and we can thank technology for that one. In some cases, it's a good thing, while in other scenarios, it's a millstone around society's neck.
I know, as I get older, sifting out the truth from the lies has gotten easier, and maybe that's because many of us have been lied to for SO long and by SO many, that we're become accustomed to not taking much "at face value".
We learn that everything has it's price...even the TRUTH.
We are taught (or teach ourselves) to question that which requires questioning.
We find that lies often have farther-reaching effects on a great many things.
And, we discover that even though the truth might hurt (now) it's better than being hurt later on when those lies bear their own fruit. We're ALL not that stupid, nor incapable of understanding that.

This is why you need to be aware of what you're being told and shown in today's world, and especially when it comes to what is passing for news these days.
Make your OWN decisions whenever you encounter stories that seem to have a particular slant to them. Dig deeper and never be turned back from checking things out for yourself.
Your decisions and the conclusions you draw are every bit as important as anyone else's...remember that.

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