Thoughts For Thursday...

"Captain's Log: Stardate 20169.8 - we have encountered a planet that is an exact replica of Earth with one exception: Everything is ass-backwards. 
We are sending down a survey team to investigate..."

"Energize..."

If this sounds familiar in any way, then good for you.
You have entered the Trek-Zone.
We'll get into this anon (seven)...lol.

In the meantime, our Hoosierland weather will see us with a slight cool down today. Expect cloudy skies, and some rain hanging around all day. Highs today will not be too much different than the current temp (77 degrees) as we peak around the mid-80s (some cool down).
Now, what say we get ourselves a nice refreshing drink (Saurian brandy or Romulan ale sounds good), as we see what else has been going on...
*** First off of the transporter pad is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. "

This was spoken by one of our founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 - July 12, 1804), and he was also chief staff aide to General George Washington, founder of the Federalist party, creator of the Federalist Papers (co-written by Hamilton along with John Jay and James Madison), founder of our nation's financial system, founder of the U.S. Coast Guard, and founder of the New York Post newspaper...wow, talk about a real "founder", hmm?
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton
Hamilton was born out of wedlock and raised in the West Indies, curiously enough.
The WIKI is rather lengthy, so your assignment will be to read up on a really important person when it comes to this nation's beginnings.

Damn shame he wasn't a better shot, though.
*** Next, it's time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
SEPTEMBER 8 -
---Today is NATIONAL PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY NURSE'S DAY

(whew, that's a mouthful)
---It's also NATIONAL AMPERSAND DAY

(bet today's students don't even know what that is. It's one of THESE - &)
*** Next up, there is a story in today's J-G that just cries out "I TOLD YOU STINKING SO". Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Revived-Villages-of-Hanna-can-t-elude-crime-15111840

Well, well....seems that the Villages at Hanna STILL have a reputation after all...JUST like when it used to be Eden Green. Now, where have I heard that before?
The most recent shooting victims LIVED at the complex, BUT the shooters did not, which to me, doesn't mean all that much. Who polices the complex anyway, aside from the FWPD?
In Philly, they have a specific group of LEOS attached to various Section 8 and HUD areas - The HOUSING AUTHORITY POLICE. It's a division of the PPD, and they have their own vehicles to patrol apartment complexes.
If things get out of hand, the Housing Authority Police have the same powers the PPD does regarding arrest and such. Might need something like this here with these people.
Doesn't matter WHO owns or runs places like these...changing the facade and even the "rules" for living there means little to such people. That's why they move into single-family houses and start the BS all over again, trashing other neighborhoods in the same manner they previously trashed the complexes.
But, what do I know? I only see this every day around here.
*** Next up, and speaking of RULES...Indiana has changed the bail bonds gig. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/courts/Release--bail-rules-changed-15129338

This is supposed to ONLY affect those first-time offenders with low-level crimes.
Okay, so a first-time burglar gets no bail and gets turned out...even after he ransacked a house?
Well, this is all dependent upon HOW the crime is defined, and we know they LOVE to RE-DEFINE things when it comes to crime these days, right? Change the rules to make it more "fair"...dunno about that one.
Sounds a bit too "liberal" if you ask me. The bondsmen are correct by stating that having the money issue hanging over their heads causes a level of accountability when showing up in court. Sounds right to me.
We shall see how this pans out.
*** Next, it's been a while since I saw a skywriter.

Told 'ya it's been a WHILE...

But yesterday, we had one right over the "Fortress".
Even managed to get a couple pics of the work (too large to get in one shot).

Yes, there's no mistaking the drone of a small rotary piston aircraft overhead, turning about the sky to create the letters we see.
And, it's exactly the way it was written...upside down (no doubt to let those up NORTH see it as right-side-up)...lol.

Gonna have to take a pass on the airshow, and I've stated my reasons here last week.
Besides, I've monarch butterflies to see on Sunday.
*** Next up, another installment of "The Hobo Chronicles"...
As could be expected, the heat and humidity yesterday made for another "take it nice and easy" day.

Not much for our furry feline to do outside but eat and rest and eat...and rest.

I did get the hose out and watered the plants. Naturally, I had a "helpmate" to ensure the hose did't get kinked and that I was doing things correctly and safely.
Well, there IS safety in "numbers", isn't there?
*** Last back to the shuttle bay...TODAY marks the 50th ANNIVERSARY of the airing of the first episode of STAR TREK (on NBC back in 1966). Wow, where did all the time go?

Yes, thanks to a former airline pilot who decided to take up script writing and landed a job with Paramount studios in Hollywood, there began the creation of a modern day mythos (Joseph Campbell would be proud), which has only grown over the last 5 decades, and shows no signs of slowing down or stopping.
His name was Gene Roddenberry, and it was he who pitched the idea of "A Wagon Train to the stars" as he put it.
It presented a better and more hopeful future for mankind (using the word Utopian is very misleading), but with similar issues (albeit on a more galactic level) that we faced back then.

Now, while this show, called Star Trek only lasted 3 seasons (79 episodes) little did anyone know there would such an outcry by so many, that the cancelled show evolved into a franchise, spawning numerous feature films and several TV shows, along with so many science-fiction conventions and merchandising items.

Fate beams Tribbles over to the Klingons.

Now, if you want QUOTES from just this series, there are a myriad of them, and several books out containing them. Hell, all books related to the original series (TOS to we trekkers) could fill a library alone, and they're not done yet.
BTW, this DOES predate Star Wars...so there.
(but it doesn't predate Doctor Who...so there, again)

Here's just one article in today's paper about this:
http://www.journalgazette.net/entertainment/tv/-Star-Trek--turns-50-15104707
(I have got to get me those postal stamps...didn't know they came out)

BBC America is showing EVERY episode in the original series, beginning tonight at 8:30 PM.
(with three uncut eps). Check the schedule for future airings/
I know I'll be tuning in, just to relive the series.
Many people benefited from Star Trek, and many more have benefited from things the trekkers made possible through technological improvements. cell phones, tablets, bio-metric scanning, magnetic resonance imaging...much of this was spawned by those who had some affinity for Star Trek (and followed the dream of a better future).
Now, if only we could get that whole STARSHIP thing going on...
...And boldly go where no one has gone before.

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

(Oh, and don't forget to Live Long and Prosper)