Monday Musings...

Welcome back into the fray, and if you prefer your winters on the milder side, you just may be in luck this week.
Also, if you like things more on the damp side (and who doesn't like that?), then get yourselves ready for some rain tonight into tomorrow in the Heartland.
Our Hoosierland weather for today finds us with mostly cloudy skies (sunshine must be at a premium this year), and temps rising into the 40s, with maybe an isolated shower over the course of the day.
Now, let's get this show rolling with a nice hot cup of our favorite morning drink, as we see what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the tool shed is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JANUARY 16 -
---Today is National Fig Newton Day

(best way to eat figs that I've found so far)
---It's National Nothing Day

(on MLK day? You're kidding, right?)
---It's National Religious Freedom Day

(something a lot of other countries DON'T have. BTW, I think Christianity belongs ABOVE Islam and not the other way around on that sign.)
---It's National Without a Scalpel Day

(think angioplasty - 1964 - Portland, Oregon)
---And, it's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

(more on this further down)
*** Next up, we managed to have our THIRD homicide of the year over the weekend

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Man-slain-in-hotel-s-parking-lot-17294184

This took place Saturday, around 2249 hrs at Extended Stay America, 5810 Challenger Parkway, near Lima and W. Washington Center Rds where police responded to shots fired, and found a black male lying in the rear parking lot of the inn.
Mario Lamont Gray, 36,  was the victim, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
He doesn't have a lengthy rap sheet, but plenty of traffic violations dating as far back as 1999. There are a couple possession charges including an intent to distribute from 6 years ago.
Police are looking for a person of interest.
*** Next, another slice of "Americana" comes to an end.

After this May, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus will cease to be.
Here's the story:
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/ringling-brothers-circus-ends-1201960889/

Yes, after 146 years, "The Greatest Show on Earth" will pass into history.
Soon, only stories or videos about what a real circus USED to be will remain to tell children.
(( The news comes after rising operation costs, falling ticket sales, and costly legal battles made the show increasingly more difficult to produce. PETA and other animal rights groups led protests against the circus and, after state and local laws placed more pressure on the company’s use of exotic animals, it ended its elephant act last May. ))

Naturally PETA applauded this calling it "the saddest show on earth", to which I would counter with I hope ALL you members have children that scream and carry on because they can't go to the circus anymore, and keep ALL you assholes up every night, as a result.
I suppose these f*cking idiots will now have nothing to do but try and go after ZOOS next? Don't rule that out. What about the denial of childhood activities to children?
*** Next up, I found out by accident something that should have been front-page news, but for some reason, was not.

Roy Innis, noted conservative civil rights advocate and leader of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) died back on 8 January. He was 82.
Here's the story:
http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/conservative-civil-rights-leader-roy-innis-dead-82
And, here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Innis
He is the ONLY man to shove Al Sharpton on his ass on national television (that alone made me a follower...heh). Think of Mr. Innis as the antithesis of someone like (rep) John Lewis.

I came to admire Mr. Innis as I have Dr. King, because he, like King stood for ALL people, and not for some. And while Innis lost 2 of his sons to gun violence in Harlem, he blamed young black thugs.
I will certainly miss hearing his voice of reason on the airwaves. We certainly need such men of his type in times like these, just to balance out the leftists and promote truth.
*** Next, and speaking of civil rights (and truth), today IS the day we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now, I know, as a white person, I am not supposed to be able to relate to "the struggle" that I hear from some factions of the black community, but I do relate, because we ALL struggle...every day, whether we choose to believe it or not. And, it's not all about race, either.
Dr. King knew this, and sought to bring together ALL people of every race through his teachings.
And in our struggles, most of us seek that which is ignored by some...the wisdom of that higher authority that we can look to in times of trouble.
I also know that it pains me to see how some people of color have chosen to do the exact opposite of what Dr. King taught to all of us.I can only imagine how other blacks feel when they see their own people choose ignorance over truth.

Dr. King was one of those "once in a lifetime" sort of people, and those of us who have lived during his time have come away from hearing him with a better understanding of who WE are, and should aspire to become.
Does that make us BETTER people? No, it just makes us more insightful, and respectful of the morality that it takes to make what seems impossible...possible.

We all need to take to heart the words of Dr. King, for the truth contained in them will long outlive us all.
*** Next up, let's see what's happening at "Kitten Corner"...

Guardians of the Galaxy Staircase.

The kids were in full cuteness mode (when they weren't busy wrestling one another) over the weekend, and spared no amount of affection to Wifey and me.

She would be watching TV, and Gallifrey would come up and rub against her shoulder and neck.
Then, while I was in the living room, watching something else, Violet would come in and give me the "head-rub and bump", which signifies the bonding method cats use. A bit later, Gallifrey came in and climbed on my lap and gave me some rubbing along the face as well.

A new take on "bunk-beds"?

I will say that he gets so caught up with being affectionate, that he gets "clumsy" and has fallen out of the chair a couple times...lol. He just gets right back up and picks up where he left off. Violet in more "subdued" with her manner, and is more careful.

"Lookit all the birdies".

And, in between these bouts of affection towards us, they spend time at the patio door, bird-watching.
We had our share at my duct-tape patched feeder, too.

Chickadee

Nuthatch

Titmouse

Woodpecker

We had four different birds come by the feeder within 5 minutes.

Now, the feeder came off it's hook (twice) when I was hanging it last week, hit the cement, and broke in a couple places, but with some help using (as Red-Green would say) "The Handyman's Secret Weapon" aka duct tape, I managed to butch the damn thing back together and keep it usable until we can find a better substitute. I can't seem to locate a (like) replacement feeder anywhere, so we might have to spend more than $10 for a feeder that the squirrels can't trash and that will hold up to all weather.
Gotta keep the birds AND the kitties happy, right?
*** Last back to the tool box...It really kinda ticked me off that today was both MLK day AND "do nothing" day.

They should have moved the do nothing day, and with good reason; people have been doing nothing (much) when it comes to following the words of Dr. King. They don't need a day to remind them of their apathy.
What many people these days DO need, is a good swift kick in their "complacency".
When people rally behind the likes of Sharpton, who manages to set his own race back a hundred years EVERY time he opens his damn mouth, you have to wonder where the hell their priorities lie, and why they seem so comfortable with things going in that direction.
The underlying message of Dr. King was EQUALITY...for ALL (not for some). He spoke about the content of one's character, rather than wealth, style, possessions...whatever. We judge people in THAT way, not by the color of their skin.

And yet, skin color is becoming an issue, due to the apathy regarding Dr. King that I mentioned above from people of color..
There are those who only seek personal gain, power, wealth...anything that is temporary or transitory, instead of the things that imbue permanence. Same can be said of every race and people.
Many serve other masters, none of which will better their status in life.

As the Bible tells us, no one can serve two masters, and serving the wrong one will lead nowhere (fast).
Doesn't it always seem to come down to making the right CHOICE?
Of course it does. Always has and always will.

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

**Thank you ALL for having this blog pass the 600,000 PAGE VIEWS threshold!
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((And to Catererin - I did answer your comment, thanks to fellow blogger, Chris Martin. What made you post WAY back on 4 Dec, 2015? LOL.))