Tuesday Tidbits - Independence Day Edition...

Welcome to another anniversary of our nation's freedom from tyranny, and all that it honestly means.
And, we're also starting out a bit on the "damp" side, but that will pass (everything does).
Our Hoosierland weather for this holiday finds us with mostly cloudy skies to start with, giving way to sunnier skies with temps eventually reaching the mid-80s.
Guess things will pan out well enough. I might even grill some hamburgers later on.

So, what say we get a nice large glass or cup of Liberty and Freedom, as we set sail into the day, hmm?
*** First from the Continental Congress is our "What the hell happens today,Bob?" feature:
JULY 4 -
---It's National barbecued Spareribs Day

(gee, I wonder WHY?)
---It's National Caesar Salad Day

(sorry, not in our house today)
---Ir's Independence Day

(more on that anon)
---It's also National Country Music Day and National Hillbilly Day
(no pics for those, and I don't know if I like hillbillies and the 4th lumped together like that)
*** Next up, time for all those police calls no one ever told us about (because the media was busy watching years old WWE footage of our president whacking some moron)...

SHOTS FIRED ((113)) / ARMED ROBBERY((53)) CALLS - 06/26 - 07/02
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
JUN 26 - 
17F078052 06/26/2017 02:44pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 600 HUFFMAN ST
17F077848 06/26/2017 12:34am 23,113 10600 HICKORY TREE RD
17F077897 06/26/2017 06:12am 23,113 2200 RUDISILL BLVD E
17F078163 06/26/2017 06:27pm 23,113 3000 HOLTON AVE
((NO armed robberies))
JUN 27 -
17F078296 06/27/2017 12:43am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2800 ALEXANDER ST
17F078332 06/27/2017 03:04am 53 ARMED ROB 6700 RAMBLEWOOD CT  
17F078533 06/27/2017 02:40pm 53 ARMED ROB 2000 FOX POINT TRL
JUN 28 -
17F078804 06/28/2017 03:04am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 ARCHER AVE
17F078992 06/28/2017 02:50pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1500 HALE AVE
17F079165 06/28/2017 09:34pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3800 PARNELL AVE & RIDGEWOOD DR
17F079190 06/28/2017 10:21pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2800 LAFAYETTE ST S
17F079212 06/28/2017 11:31pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 TABER ST E
17F079158 06/28/2017 09:24pm 58 SHOOTING 3400 HOLTON AVE
((NO armed robberies))
JUN 29 -
17F079281 06/29/2017 02:58am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4600 SMITH ST & CAPITOL AVE
17F079622 06/29/2017 06:50pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 COLISEUM BLVD N
17F079667 06/29/2017 08:57pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3700 LAHMEYER RD & TRIER RD
17F079293 06/29/2017 03:52am 53 ARMED ROB 2100 POINT WEST DR
17F079384 06/29/2017 10:50am 53 ARMED ROB 2200 RANDALLIA DR
17F079701 06/29/2017 10:10pm 53 ARMED ROB 1000 COLISEUM BLVD E
17F079663 06/29/2017 08:40pm 58 SHOOTING 1500 CALHOUN ST S
JUN 30 -
17F079761 06/30/2017 12:25am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4900 MOUNT VERNON PARK DR
17F079962 06/30/2017 01:07pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3800 NEWPORT AVE
17F080133 06/30/2017 05:49pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1500 ST JOE CENTER RD & CLINTON ST
17F080220 06/30/2017 09:32pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1900 SEDDLEMEYER AVE
17F080236 06/30/2017 10:11pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 BUTLER ST W HOAGLAND 
17F080267 06/30/2017 10:47pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2700 PAULDING RD E
17F079980 06/30/2017 01:33pm 53 ARMED ROB 2400 FLORIDA DR
JUl 01 -
17F080590 07/01/2017 03:56pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 7300 WINCHESTER RD
17F080642 07/01/2017 06:04pm 23,113 1000 WESTWIND CT
17F080788 07/01/2017 11:59pm 58 SHOOTING 1300 HUESTIS AVE
((NO armed robberies))
JUN 02 -
((NO shots fired))
((NO armed robberies))
THIS kinda thing is an ANOMALY, trust me.
===========================
More than 30 burglaries, over 70+ disturbance calls, and 21 narcotics runs.
==========================
FIREWORKS CALLS 06/26 - 07/02
17F077883 06/26/2017 03:39am 44FW 3100 WELLS ST
17F078033 06/26/2017 02:04pm 44FW 1800 DUPONT RD W
17F078167 06/26/2017 06:38pm 44FW 5700 FERNWOOD AVE
17F078234 06/26/2017 09:48pm 44FW 3500 BROADWAY & BLUFFTON RD
17F078256 06/26/2017 10:47pm 44FW 5300 STONEHEDGE BLVD
17F078257 06/26/2017 10:48pm 44FW 3800 AVONDALE DR
17F078265 06/26/2017 11:09pm 44FW 900 COOK RD E
17F078472 06/27/2017 12:38pm 44FW 5600 ST JOE CENTER RD & SALGE DR
17F078518 06/27/2017 02:14pm 44FW 2400 INDIAN VILLAGE BLVD
17F078531 06/27/2017 02:36pm 44FW 9500 CRESTRIDGE DR
17F078610 06/27/2017 05:23pm 44FW 5800 RADCLIFFE DR & FAIRWOOD DR
17F078667 06/27/2017 07:23pm 44FW 4900 BUELL DR & LENOX AVE W
17F078694 06/27/2017 08:54pm 44FW 2800 HOLTON AVE
17F078721 06/27/2017 09:41pm 44FW 200 SEMINOLE CIR S
17F078729 06/27/2017 10:12pm 44FW 500 NORDALE DR & GOODRICH RD
17F078750 06/27/2017 10:58pm 44FW 3000 SIMCOE DR
17F079120 06/28/2017 07:49pm 44FW 3500 PARKHILL AVE
17F079135 06/28/2017 08:23pm 44FW 1900 CHOCHTIMAR TRL
17F079175 06/28/2017 09:17pm 44FW 2600 MAPLECREST RD
17F079171 06/28/2017 09:38pm 44FW 3100 HOBSON RD
17F079200 06/28/2017 10:22pm 44FW 1900 GRISWOLD DR
17F079197 06/28/2017 10:45pm 44FW 2100 THOMPSON AVE
17F079198 06/28/2017 10:48pm 44FW 1000 EDGEWATER AVE
17F079586 06/29/2017 05:15pm 44FW 1200 MAIN ST W & CENTER ST
17F079699 06/29/2017 09:42pm 44FW 1500 CASS ST
17F079758 06/30/2017 12:06am 44FW 9300 AUBURN RD & WOODLAND LAKE PS
17F079953 06/30/2017 12:38pm 44FW 2100 HOBSON RD
17F080229 06/30/2017 09:52pm 44FW 2000 BROADWAY
17F080304 06/30/2017 11:45pm 44FW 2800 ADAMS ST
17F080317 07/01/2017 12:19am 44FW 1400 LAKEHURST DR
17F080567 07/01/2017 02:55pm 44FW 1200 MAIN ST W & CENTER ST
17F080592 07/01/2017 04:08pm 44FW 900 TENNESSEE AVE
17F080696 07/01/2017 09:10pm 44FW 3800 TAYLOR ST
17F080716 07/01/2017 09:43pm 44FW 3200 RIVER FOREST DR
17F080743 07/01/2017 10:20pm 44FW 6300 BAY TREE DR
17F080756 07/01/2017 11:06pm 44FW 3900 THREE OAKS DR & WINDY KNOLL C
17F080764 07/01/2017 11:12pm 44FW 1700 WILLOW MOUND PL
17F080765 07/01/2017 11:22pm 44FW 100 KENOSHA BLVD
17F080766 07/01/2017 11:27pm 44FW 200 EDGEWOOD AVE & LIMA RD
17F080769 07/01/2017 11:31pm 44FW 3600 NEVADA AVE & LAVERNE AVE
17F080768 07/01/2017 11:31pm 44FW 5500 COLUMBINE LN
17F080772 07/01/2017 11:32pm 44FW 2500 BUTLER RD & CEDAR RIDGE RUN
17F080777 07/01/2017 11:52pm 44FW 5100 WINCHESTER RD  
17F080782 07/01/2017 11:54pm 44FW 6800 GOODRICH RD & REGENT C
17F080801 07/02/2017 12:00am 44FW 3800 NEWPORT AVE
17F080790 07/02/2017 12:02am 44FW 5100 EVARD RD
17F080794 07/02/2017 12:07am 44FW 5000 BAHAMA LN
17F080797 07/02/2017 12:09am 44FW 5300 JOHNNIE DR
17F080843 07/02/2017 01:48am 44FW 2300 SOUTHWAYNE AVE
17F081008 07/02/2017 01:29pm 44FW 1200 MAIN ST W & CENTER ST
17F081044 07/02/2017 03:50pm 44FW 1300 PACKARD AVE W
17F081217 07/02/2017 11:53pm 44FW 700 DEWALD ST W
===========================
Holy Crap that's a lot...but NOW they're legal to set off (damn)
*** Next up, another shooting on the (...all together, gang...) SOUTHEAST SIDE.

Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2017/07/03/person-seriously-hurt-in-shooting-at-oxford-food-market/

This took place at the Oxford Food Market located in the 1100 block of Oxford Av around 2130 hrs.
Police found a person with a gunshot wound to the lower back. The victim was transported to hospital in serious condition.
And, as usual, no description of the victim, the shooter, direction of travel...nothing.
Naturally, the investigation IS ongoing (thank God for small miracles).
Guess you can't stop by a local grocery down here after dark any longer?

Where the hell IS it, anyway?

Hey Mr Mayor (aka your regal, shaved lip highness)...where's that QUALITY-OF-LIFE line of bullshit you're always talking about? Not really seeing it these days down here.
*** Next up, another fort Wayne turdblossom gets his just dues. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170704/atf-uncovers-drugs-firearms

Adonnis Carswell, 32, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. Now THAT is a good raid by the ATF.
And they have this jerk's TRASH to thank for it...lol.
((Carswell allegedly told the agent that he could not go to prison because he was a Vice Lord gang captain from Chicago. The Vice Lords are one of the largest and oldest Chicago street gangs, with membership estimated in the tens of thousands.))
See? We DO have a gang problem in Fort Wayne.
((“Carswell was trying to talk quietly to (the agent) and Carswell offered what sounded like $10,000 to (the agent) if (the agent) would just put 'it' (heroin) in his pocket and walk away, with Carswell motioning to the kitchen as he said this,” court documents state. The agent refused the bribe.))
But, boys and girls...it gets even BETTER...

((investigators later found about 68 grams of heroin and several loaded handgun magazines, as well as a loaded Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun on top of the refrigerator in Carswell's kitchen. Investigators also found two large scales.
In a closet in Carswell's bedroom, investigators located two safes – one of which apparently belonged to Cars­well's girlfriend – which contained cash totaling more than $30,000. Investigators also discovered an AK-47-style rifle with a loaded 100-round drum magazine attached inside the closet and another handgun underneath the bed.))
Like I said, a really GOOD raid by the feds.
*** Next, now let's leave this crap behind and see to our "Kitten Corner"...

Why iz that red dot moving by itself?

The kids weren't too bad, considering the increasing fireworks activity. Wifey was using the laser pointer to run them through the house, tiring them out.

I iz all lazered out now.

That works well enough, too. Not much later, it was "take it easy" time, and we know what that means...
NAPS GALORE...lol.
Had to actually wake them for dinner...how about that?
*** Next, time to check out our "Tales of Midnight"...

What? You thought I WASN'T coming today?

Our fuzzy buddy finally came along around 11AM (musta slept in), and then he hung out for some of the day, coming back late in the afternoon and staying until dark.

Nice and shady here.

He now likes being under the hibiscus plants

Well, it IS a bit drier under here.

We had some brief showers, and he huddled under the patio table for a bit (to eat).
Then, it was off to find a safe spot from all the damnable fireworks activity (which went on until after 0100 hrs this morning.
Sure enough, Midnight was outside waiting for his food today.
*** Last back to the the Cradle of Liberty...time to celebrate the 4th.

And on days like this, it's much better to demonstrate  how I personally feel by using the famous saying: "a picture is worth a thousand words", so allow me to leave you all with some things to think about...

Enjoy our Independence Day and know WHY it's important to EVERYONE in this great nation.

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