Friday Follies...

We finally end the first full week of August, and for many, that means a couple days of R&R.
For others, like the locals around where we live...it only means more of the same, and that entails two more days of TNB (if you have to ask, you need to bone up on the urban dictionary...lol).
Our Hoosierland weather today brings us partly to mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching to around 80 degrees, and a good chance of showers and thunderstorms later today (sometime - dunno when).

Now, how about we all get that refreshing drink to wet our whistle, and get us started in the proper direction, as we see what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First off of the lawn is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
AUGUST 11 -
---It's National Presidential Joke Day

(certainly no joke being president after Obama's mess was left behind)
---It's National Raspberry Bombe Day

(sure beats the nuclear kind...heh)
---It's National Son's and Daughter's Day

(Well, we only have cats, so...)
*** Next, and since the end of the week IS here, let's see what we can observe over the following 48 hours...
AUGUST 12 -
---Saturday is National Bowling Day

(try to find a place that's not lousy with leagues taking over the joint)
---It's National Garage Sale Day

(sorry, not planning to "sell" ours...lol)
---It's National Julienne Fries Day

(my personal favorite kind of fries)
---It's National Middle Child Day

(Wifey and I are ONLY children, so...)
---It's National Vinyl Record Day

(keep that turntable - vinyl is making a comeback)
AUGUST 13 -
---Sunday is Left-Hander's Day

(I'm right-handed, as is Wifey, so...)
---It's National Filet Mignon Day

(medium well, if you please)
---It's National Prosecco Day

(hey, it's wine, so why not indulge?)
And there you have it...plenty to do. And please observe responsibly.
*** Next up, another Amber Alert for a black child ends well. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170811/girl-home-safe-after-amber-alert

First off, since we're talking about black-on-black crime, none of the last names will be similar. That's just the way they roll. Let's just say the baby-daddy did it.
(( Channing Scott, 46, forcibly took Adayah out of her mother's van by taking a toy scooter and breaking out one of the van's windows. He was with another man when the abduction occurred, police said.abducted the girl,.))

Ugly mugshot                   cute kid

A violent way to have a visitation.
((Adayah Bratton was dropped off about 4:20 p.m. at the Wendy's at Southtown Crossing near East Tillman Road and South Anthony Boulevard, police said. She was in good health and was reunited with her mother. She had been missing since about 2 a.m. Thursday. Adayah Bratton was dropped off about 4:20 p.m. at the Wendy's at Southtown Crossing near East Tillman Road and South Anthony Boulevard, police said. She was in good health and was reunited with her mother. She had been missing since about 2 a.m. Thursday.
Scott was believed to be driving or riding in a gold-colored Buick and was seen in the vicinity of the Wendy's at Southtown Crossing, police said. Scott earlier was identified as driving a red 2011 Hyundai Accent with Indiana license plate VKZ918.))
Certainly, Scott has become a "role model" for ethnic parenting on the city's SE side.
*** Next, here's another example of technology outpacing the ability of people to manage it properly:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/20170811/road-to-ruin-smarter-tech-dumber-drivers

Now, WHO on God's green earth could not have seen THIS one coming?
And, HOW many times have I mentioned the new smarter cars and all they could do?
Hell, I'm STILL figuring out things on the Wifeymobile 2.0 (2015 Impala), and we've had it for over a year!

But, I don't fall into the category of "dumb-driver", as I'm sure none of you do either.
Still, this is becoming something that's alarming the auto industry (and with good reason).
All the tech that is meant to "assist" the driver is actually degrading (human) driving skills.

Funny thing about that, I hadn't noticed the practicing of much "skill" on behalf of a lot of other drivers when I'm out tooling around...lol.
In fact, it's becoming a lot like Philly in some respects, and "that ain't good".
((For carmakers trying to address deteriorating driver skills, the stakes are immense. U.S. roadway deaths jumped 14 percent over the last two years, with more than 40,000 people dying in crashes in 2016. While speeding and more congested roadways bear some of the blame, distraction is another key culprit. Data released by the federal government show manipulation of handheld devices while driving, including texting or surfing the web, has been on the rise.))
Oopsie...that's not reassuring, especially if yo';re one of the GOOD drivers that IS paying attention to how your skills are being used. The down side is that YOU can only drive YOUR car at any given time...and NOT the cars of all the others out there (not paying attention).

NOT the "driver-assist" you're looking for.

So, what are carmakers to do?
Why, install even MORE technology, like eye-movement tracking. And you can bet that's ONLY the beginning.
Where will it all end? Hopefully not at a funeral home.
*** Next, that time of my life has arrived...finally.

I am planning (today) to go sign up for (cue doom music of choice)...Social Security.
Yes, after all those years of blood, sweat and tears, time to get MY money back that I poured into the federal government (for them to take care of)...ROFLMAO.
Yes, that WAS meant a a joke.
(and as we know, the feds have been TAKING from that pot for decades, leaving we working stiffs with questionable future money that we worked for and paid into all that time.)
Personally, I would much prefer to have had that same money placed into a PRIVATE account of some sort, to gather interest and even placed into diversified assets, so that I would have MORE money over time, than the government is "allowing me".

But, such things are worth another post for another day, right?
So let's not dwell, and hipe for the best.
*** Next up, time to check in at "Kitten Corner"...

Our kids were not AS busy chasing each other, and actually spent some time playing with some of their toys or lounging in the window. I'd call that a win (any day).
And, in the evening, they join me in the living room as I watch television. Gallifrey prefers the chair, while Violet like the floor nearby.

I iz NOT the "welcome mat".

If it's some nature show, they might take a moment to watch a bird or two.
Times such as those are priceless.
*** Next up, let's not exclude our other cats aka "Midnight and Company"...

Another typical day for our outside twosome.
They came by to eat, and then Midnight went on "patrol", while Whiskers hung out near the house.

Luckily she didn't see the brown praying mantis on the patio door screen.
Well, it sure beats locusts, but it makes me wonder what's next? Frogs? Boils?

No, it's not a remake of a monster movie...lol

In this part of town, I never rule out the plagues of Egypt descending upon us.
But as long as the cats come by, they'll get fed and cared for.
*** Last back to the garden...people have certainly changed since I was a youth.

And many of those changes have not been for the better, sad to say.
I've seen people grow less concerned about others (and even themselves) in some ways.

I've seen the lack of respect grow, as the demand for respect has risen.
Sorry, but to GET respect, you have to be willing to GIVE it. That's the simple truth.
The lack of civility, morality, work ethics, as well as the ability to make better choices seems to have fallen by the wayside.
Now, how (exactly) is that benefiting anyone, anyway?
The values and principles I had taught to me by parents, relatives, and educators as I was growing up, somehow managed to stick with me, and apparently, that makes me the anachronistic one in the bunch.
Now, I don't plan to change MY way of living to serve whatever masses come down the pike.

I think the opposite needs to become true...let THEM change to become better individuals, through the traits that I was exposed to and emulated through life.
But, if people choose to remain uninformed, and terminally stupid beyond their years...that's on THEM.
It's certainly not on me.
Therein lies the lesson for the week.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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